EU WARNS AGAINST RISING ELECTION VIOLENCE, HATE SPEECH AHEAD OF 2027 POLLS
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By: Hammad Fasasi
The European Union (EU) has expressed concern over reports of election-related violence, hate speech and political intimidation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The concerns follow a series of reported attacks on political supporters and campaign activities in different parts of the country.
In Katsina State, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who were travelling to a campaign flag-off in Funtua, were reportedly attacked along the Yashi-Funtua route in October.
A female passenger was injured, while vehicles were damaged. The police subsequently announced the arrest of 14 suspects.
Similarly, the convoy of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was attacked in Calabar, Cross River State, on November 4, 2026.
The police confirmed that vehicles were damaged and announced the arrest of a suspect, while investigations into the incident continued.
On November 7, 2026, one person was killed and five others injured during an attack on a political procession and rally organised by NDC supporters along Nnebisi Road in Asaba, Delta State.
The National Peace Committee also disclosed that it had recorded 60 election-related incidents within one month, involving violence, intimidation and threats.
Speaking at the opening session of the Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders Forum on the State of Human Rights in Abuja, the EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, said such incidents threatened democratic gains and discouraged citizens from participating fully in the electoral process.
He described open forums, a free media, peaceful assembly and civil society organisations as essential to credible elections, noting that they promote transparency and allow citizens to exchange information, debate issues and scrutinise political candidates without fear of censorship or retaliation.
Mignot said free civic and political spaces also helped hold leaders and institutions accountable by allowing civil society organisations and active citizens to monitor election administration, track campaign promises and challenge government policies.
He added that freedom of association and assembly could prevent authorities from manipulating electoral rules or undermining democratic processes.
The EU ambassador stressed that protecting these rights was essential to ensuring credible elections and public confidence in the electoral process.
He said the European Union, alongside its member states, remained committed to supporting free civic and political spaces in Nigeria.
Mignot also pledged the EU’s support for institutions such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and civil society organisations in strengthening democracy and good governance.
“Our objective is not to interfere in the elections but to support legitimate Nigerian stakeholders to fully play their roles in order to contribute to a free, fair, credible electoral process.
“Stakeholders, the public sector, civil society, political parties, the media, all have a very important role to play,” he said.
The forum was organised by the NHRC under the theme, “Protecting Human Rights in Civic and Political Spaces in the 2027 Elections.”
In his address, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, said the forum was necessary because democracy depended on more than what happened on election day.
According to him, democracy also relied on citizens being able to express themselves freely, assemble peacefully, associate without obstruction and choose their leaders without intimidation.
Ojukwu cited Sections 14, 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as Article 13 of the African Charter and Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as legal provisions protecting citizens’ participation in public affairs and elections.
He warned that suppressing these rights could weaken democracy by creating apathy, fear and distrust among citizens.
The NHRC boss also expressed concern over the challenges faced by journalists and human rights defenders, including harassment, arbitrary arrests and the alleged misuse of laws such as the Cybercrimes Act.
He identified political and voter intimidation, exclusion through prohibitive nomination fees, hate speech, incitement and regulatory uncertainties surrounding digital platforms as threats to the electoral process.
Ojukwu further raised concerns over the lack of accountability for electoral offences, warning that perpetrators could continue to undermine the process if they were allowed to act with impunity.
He said the commission had raised similar concerns during a recent meeting with a United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) delegation led by its Special Representative, Leonardo Santos Simão.
“These are warning lights, not yet verdicts. The window to correct course is now, and that is precisely why this Forum meets today,” he added.
In his goodwill message, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Dantalle, said recent off-cycle elections, particularly the campaign period before the Osun State governorship election, had highlighted the urgent need to address electoral violence and protect citizens throughout the electoral cycle.
His speech, read by Mr Chinedu Obi, stressed that democracy should be reflected in every stage of the electoral process, from campaigns and voter mobilisation to voting, collation and the announcement of results.
Dantalle urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to ensure that political competition did not degenerate into violence.
He called for issue-based campaigns, political tolerance and responsible communication, while urging stakeholders to reject electoral violence, hate speech, voter suppression and political intimidation.
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