By Jane Okeke
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has warned that rising campaign costs, political intimidation and election-related violence could weaken democratic competition and undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The coalition expressed the concern on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in Abuja, through its Co-Convener, Celestine Odo, while presenting its assessment of the country’s political environment ahead of the elections.
With the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the governorship and State Assembly elections fixed for February 6, the Situation Room said developments preceding election day would be critical to determining the credibility of the polls.
The coalition particularly questioned the affordability of political campaign billboard permits in several states, citing reported charges of ₦200 million in Abia, ₦150 million in Enugu, Kogi and Cross River, ₦75 million in Rivers, ₦50 million in Anambra and ₦40 million in Benue. It warned that the charges could limit the visibility of candidates without substantial financial backing.
On election security, the Situation Room cited an assessment which documented 70 physical election-related incidents across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory between January 1 and October 27, 2026, with 27 fatalities recorded across 20 separate incidents.
It identified campaign rallies, party offices and political activities as major targets, warning that the reported incidents required urgent attention from security agencies ahead of the 2027 elections.
The group also expressed concern over internal party disputes, contentious primaries, political defections and alleged restrictions on opposition activities, noting that unresolved leadership disputes and exclusionary nomination processes could limit voters’ choices and weaken confidence in political competition.
On electoral administration, the coalition called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to provide clearer explanations of the safeguards governing electronic transmission of polling unit results under the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the procedures for handling communication failures and reconciling electronic records with physical result forms.
It further urged the Senate to subject nominees to INEC to rigorous scrutiny, including concerns raised about their independence and impartiality. The Situation Room specifically referenced the reported family relationship between Professor Mustafa Ali, one of the nominees, and the Governor of Sokoto State, while noting that such a relationship does not automatically establish political bias.
The coalition also called for stronger action against vote buying, illicit campaign financing and the misuse of public resources for partisan purposes. It urged relevant electoral, anti-corruption and security agencies to investigate reported violations impartially and ensure that offenders face appropriate sanctions.
It identified the misuse of artificial intelligence, manipulated images, fabricated political statements and false election announcements as additional threats to the electoral process, urging media organisations, technology platforms and civil society groups to strengthen public awareness and counter electoral disinformation.
The Situation Room also called for improved voter education and greater inclusion of women, young people and persons with disabilities, warning that insecurity, economic hardship, political intimidation and inaccessible polling units could discourage citizens from participating in the elections.
Among its recommendations, the coalition urged INEC to publish regular updates on its preparedness, explain recent internal redeployments, clarify reports of additional polling units and strengthen transparency in results management. It also called on political parties to uphold internal democracy, security agencies to protect all political actors without discrimination and the judiciary to resolve electoral disputes within the prescribed timelines.
The Situation Room maintained that credible elections require more than the organisation of voting activities, insisting that political freedoms, institutional independence, transparent electoral procedures and equal opportunities for candidates must be protected before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
