Stakeholders are increasingly concerned that rising political violence, intimidation and inflammatory rhetoric could threaten the Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political violence refers to the deliberate use of physical force, threats or intimidation by state or non-state actors to achieve political objectives, capture power or challenge political systems.
The concern has intensified as political activities gather momentum, with reports of attacks, threats and clashes involving political parties and their supporters following the commencement of campaigns ahead of the elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission released the election timetable, which sets the presidential election for January 16, 2027, while the governorship/state assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Stakeholders warned that political violence could undermine democratic participation by creating fear, suppressing political expression, discouraging voter engagement, disrupting campaigns, and weakening public confidence in electoral institutions.
This, they said, could also deepen social divisions, increase insecurity and threaten the credibility, legitimacy and peaceful acceptance of election outcomes.
Recently, the National Peace Committee disclosed that it had recorded 60 election-related incidents across the country within one month, including political violence, intimidation, threats, attacks on political activities and misinformation.
The committee, chaired by former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, and convened by Most Rev Matthew Kukah, warned that the developments could restrict political participation, undermine public confidence and escalate tensions as the elections draw closer.
The NPC cautioned President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and other political actors against inflammatory and inciting campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement jointly signed by Atiku and Kukah, the committee said misinformation and disinformation accounted for the largest share of the 60 incidents, with 24 cases representing 40 per cent of the total.
According to the report, NPC recorded 13 incidents involving attacks and disruptions targeting political activities and assets, representing 21.7 per cent. Political intimidation and threats, including incidents involving security personnel, accounted for 10 cases, or 16.7 per cent.
The report indicated that political violence and thuggery accounted for six incidents, representing 10 per cent, while inflammatory statements made up four incidents, or 6.7 per cent. Restrictions on freedom of expression, intra-party conflicts and voter inducement accounted for one incident each.
The committee urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to strengthen monitoring of political campaigns and enforce the Electoral Act 2026 and other regulations governing political parties.
Viral warnings raise further concerns
However, amid the rising political tensions, several viral videos and public warnings have emerged online targeting alleged election riggers, INEC officials and National Youth Service Corps members expected to participate in the 2027 electoral process.
Prominent commentators, religious figures including Primate Elijah Ayodele, and citizens featured in viral clips have issued stern warnings, saying the 2027 elections will “not be business as usual” and cautioning those who attempt to compromise the process against possible consequences.
Some viral videos have specifically targeted National Youth Service Corps members who serve as INEC ad-hoc personnel.
In videos reviewed by Sunday PUNCH, commentators warned against fraudulent claims involving electoral technology, including allegations that anyone falsely claiming that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System or other equipment is malfunctioning could face repercussions.
Some social media posts went further, using the phrase “write your will” in warnings directed at youths who might be recruited to manipulate election results.
The rhetoric appears to reflect growing public frustration over electoral malpractice and fears that youths recruited for political violence could be exposed to danger at campaign venues, polling units or collation centres.
Moreover, religious and community leaders have consequently urged parents to monitor their children and caution them against being used for political violence, warning that politicians may not protect youths when violence erupts.
Meanwhile, in response to the political tensions, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, travelled to several orientation camps to issue guidelines to corps members ahead of the elections.
Nafiu reminded corps members that they are legally required to remain politically neutral and are prohibited from participating in partisan campaigns.
He warned corps members against engaging in political campaigns or using their NYSC identity and social media platforms to promote political parties or candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
During a working visit to the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Katsina, Nafiu also cautioned corps members against spreading misinformation and AI-generated content.
“As corps members, you are not permitted to campaign for any political party or candidate. If your social media activities are traced to political promotion while wearing the NYSC identity, appropriate action will be taken,” he said.
He urged them to verify information before sharing or reposting content online.
“Don’t just share or repost blindly. Think through what you receive. Verify the source, check when the picture was taken and determine whether it has been manipulated by AI. Technology has changed the information space completely,” he said.
Sunday PUNCH learnt that the warnings from political, religious, civil society and electoral stakeholders point to the importance of addressing election-related violence well before voting begins.
Calls for early action
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre also called on Tinubu, INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and other security agencies to take immediate steps to prevent political violence and intimidation ahead of the elections.
The Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said recent incidents and allegations across several states were warning signs that should not be ignored until election day.
The organisation cited reports of inflammatory political rhetoric, disruption of opposition meetings, restrictions on the movement of political actors, alleged discriminatory interference with campaign materials and threats of physical violence against political opponents.
It stressed, however, that the allegations were not identical and should be independently investigated.
“Election security begins before election day,” RULAAC said, adding that credible elections could not be secured merely by deploying security personnel to polling units after months of threats, intimidation and political violence.
The organisation urged Tinubu to publicly reaffirm the neutrality of state institutions and make clear that no governor, minister, local council chairman, party official, candidate or political supporter would be shielded from investigation or prosecution where credible evidence of electoral offences exists.
It also called on the police and other security agencies to identify emerging political violence hotspots, investigate credible threats, trace illegal weapons and dismantle groups allegedly being mobilised to intimidate political opponents.
RULAAC maintained that individuals who threaten, organise, finance or perpetrate political violence should not be protected by political affiliation.
“Peace accords are important. But peace accords cannot substitute for law enforcement,” the organisation said.
Religious leaders caution politicians
At a Special Interfaith Dialogue with traditional rulers and Christian and Muslim religious leaders in Kaduna, Governor Uba Sani urged religious leaders to caution politicians against mobilising vulnerable people, particularly youths, to engage in violent protests and actions that could threaten peace and security.
The governor said religious leaders had a major responsibility to educate Nigerians on the need for peaceful conduct, particularly during elections.
“You have a responsibility to caution politicians because of what I’m seeing in Nigeria today. A lot of politicians are instigating the downtrodden, our children, to cause violence and anarchy, to the detriment of our democracy,” he said.
Sani said Northern Nigeria had a major responsibility to ensure that the region was not left behind or plunged into crisis during elections.
He urged political actors to ensure that disagreements did not degenerate into hatred or violence, stressing that citizens had the right to hold different opinions.
INEC warns over security
INEC has also stressed the need for early security planning, warning that elections cannot be credible if citizens feel unsafe participating in the process.
The warning is reinforced by Nigeria’s history of election-related violence. Research by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project has found that political violence has repeatedly increased around election periods, with candidates, party supporters, civilians and electoral officials among those targeted.
On May 6, 2026, the INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, warned that the scale of insecurity across different parts of Nigeria posed a major threat to the conduct of free and fair elections.
Amupitan spoke during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, in Abuja, as preparations intensified for the 2027 general elections.
He said prevailing security challenges, including violence and threats to electoral processes, could undermine credible polls if not properly addressed.
According to him, the elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, for the presidency and February 6, 2027, for governorship and state assemblies require strong collaboration between INEC and security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police, which leads electoral security operations.
Meanwhile, the Kano Civil Society Alliance for Peaceful Politics has called for the suspension of large political gatherings in the state while advocating safer campaign alternatives ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kano, the coalition warned that the recent surge in “yan daba” – related violence threatened lives, property and the integrity of the electoral process.
The convener of the group, Mallam Abdullahi Muhammad, said the demand followed what he described as an alarming pattern of politically motivated thuggery across the state.
“We cannot allow political ambition to be paid for in blood and fear by the citizens. The scale of violence we have recorded is unacceptable; politicians who fund and deploy yan daba must be held to account,” he added.
However, the Secretary of the alliance, Muhammad Auwal, said the coalition would mobilise citizens, particularly youths and women, to reject violence and support non-violent forms of engagement before, during and after the elections.
“Our priority is to protect lives and ensure elections are free from intimidation,” Auwal said.
He urged candidates to adopt safer campaign methods, including virtual outreach, market briefings and neighbourhood listening sessions, to reduce the risks associated with large political gatherings.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
