From Isaac Ojo
A human rights lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor (Dunu-Ezeugosinachi), has warned that Nigeria may be heading towards one of the most violent elections in its history if emerging threats of political violence are not urgently addressed.
Ejiofor, in a statement over the weekend, raised concerns over what he described as a gathering storm across Nigeria’s electoral landscape, warning that the 2027 general elections could degenerate into one of the bloodiest electoral seasons in the country’s history.
He said the warning signs were increasingly visible, citing reports of political attacks, intimidation, violent disruptions and the mobilisation of hostile political foot soldiers in Cross River, Sokoto, Kebbi, Enugu and Katsina states.
According to him, the incidents suggest a growing pattern of political violence that requires urgent intervention by relevant authorities.
“In Katsina, for instance, the police confirmed the arrest of three suspects following an incident in Yankara, where a vehicle was set ablaze and political posters destroyed in what they described as suspected political thuggery. Reports from other states are equally troubling,” he said.
Ejiofor recalled that Nigeria’s 2023 electoral cycle recorded 586 election-related violent incidents and 348 fatalities across 274 local government areas, according to the International Election Observation Mission.
He described the apparent normalisation of political violence as particularly concerning, warning that failure to address the trend could expose the country to further electoral bloodshed in 2027.
The lawyer also questioned the capacity of security institutions to effectively tackle politically motivated violence, particularly where those behind such acts allegedly enjoy protection from influential individuals within the corridors of power.
He stressed the need for decisive action against political violence, warning that the credibility and safety of the 2027 electoral process could be undermined if the emerging threats are allowed to persist.
