Electoral Violence Threatens Nigeria's Democratic Progress

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has issued a warning regarding the threat of electoral violence to Nigeria's democratic consolidation. During a joint press conference commemorating Democracy Day, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, the Director General of IPCR, stated that a strong democracy relies on informed citizen participation and credible, violence-free elections.

The IPCR highlighted that electoral violence suppresses voter turnout and undermines the legitimacy of electoral outcomes, deepening societal divisions and fueling grievances. Gift Omoniwa, the Director of the program Search Common Ground, noted that incidents of political intimidation, property destruction, misinformation, hate speech, and physical attacks weaken public confidence in electoral institutions.

The IPCR called for political actors, electoral institutions, security agencies, media, civil society organizations, and citizens to uphold principles of peaceful political engagement. They urged Nigerians to reject electoral violence and embrace peaceful democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections, recognizing that Nigeria has made significant progress in returning to democratic governance despite ongoing threats.