The run-up to Nigeria’s 2027 general elections is being marked by a growing wave of political violence. Attacks on convoys, disruptions of party activities and violent clashes have become a feature of the campaign. The pattern is consistent across states.
Nigerian elections have a long record of violence. In 2019, dozens were killed in election-related clashes. In 2023, violence disrupted voting in several states. The current cycle has produced attacks in Edo, Enugu, Delta and Katsina. The frequency has increased. The perpetrators are rarely arrested. Prosecutions are rare.
A report by the African Centre for Security, Governance and Development recorded 70 political violence incidents and 27 deaths in ten months across 19 states. The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room raised the alarm. It said the violence threatens the credibility of the 2027 polls. A survey found that 61 per cent of Nigerians feared violence could prevent them from voting.
The attacks have targeted opposition figures. In Delta, an NDC rally was attacked, leaving one dead and five injured. In Enugu, the NDC secretariat was attacked. In Edo, the party’s secretariat was set ablaze. In Katsina, an APC convoy was stoned. The police have made few arrests. The sponsors remain unidentified.
The Turaki-led PDP faction called on President Bola Tinubu to publicly condemn the violence. It demanded that all persons implicated be investigated and prosecuted. The Federal Government has not issued a comprehensive response. The police have promised investigations. The pattern suggests impunity.
Winners: The attackers, who escape consequences. Politicians who benefit from a climate of fear. Social media, which gains content. Losers: The 27 dead and their families. Voters who fear participating. Opposition parties, which face intimidation. The police, whose neutrality is questioned. INEC, whose credibility depends on peaceful polls. Democracy, which suffers.
Bottom Line: Seventy incidents. Twenty-seven deaths. Sixty-one per cent of voters fear violence. The 2027 election is on course to be one of the most dangerous in Nigeria’s history. The government must act. Condemnation is not enough. Prosecution is the test.