The European Union (EU) has raised the alarm over growing incidents of election-related violence, hate speech and political intimidation in Nigeria, warning that such threats could undermine democratic gains and discourage citizens from participating in the 2027 general elections.
The EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, expressed the concern on Wednesday at the opening of the Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders Forum on the State of Human Rights in Abuja.
His warning comes amid a series of reported attacks on political supporters and candidates across the country, raising concerns about the safety of political actors and the credibility of the forthcoming elections.
In October, supporters of the All Progressives Congress travelling for a campaign flag-off in Funtua, Katsina State, were reportedly attacked along the Yashi-Funtua route. A female passenger sustained injuries, several vehicles were damaged, and the police subsequently announced 14 arrests.
Similarly, the convoy of the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was attacked in Calabar, Cross River State, on November 4. The police confirmed damage to vehicles and announced the arrest of a suspect as investigations continued.
On November 7, 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 has also disclosed that it recorded 60 election-related incidents within one month, including violence, intimidation and threats.
Speaking against this backdrop, Mignot said such incidents threatened democratic participation, stressing that open civic spaces, independent media, peaceful assembly and active civil society organisations were essential to credible elections.
He noted that these safeguards allowed citizens to access information, scrutinise candidates, debate public issues and hold political leaders accountable without fear of censorship or retaliation.
According to him, free civic and political spaces also enable civil society organisations and citizens to monitor election administration, track campaign promises and challenge government policies.
He said, “It is vital to ensure credibility and public confidence in an election. The absence or weakening of these safeguards will directly undermine citizens’ rights to participate meaningfully in elections. This is why the European Union, together with its member states, is committed to ensuring the sustenance of free civic and political spaces in Nigeria.”
The EU envoy pledged the bloc’s continued support for institutions, including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and civil society organisations to strengthen 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,” Mignot stated.
The forum, organised by the NHRC, was themed, “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 was sustained not only on election day but also through the protection of citizens’ rights between elections.
He said citizens must be free to express their opinions, assemble peacefully, associate with others and choose their leaders without intimidation.
Citing Sections 14, 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Ojukwu said the right to participate in public affairs was fundamental to democracy.
“When that right is suppressed, democracy does not merely stumble; it begins to die, quietly, through apathy, fear and distrust,” he said.
The NHRC boss expressed concern over the increasingly difficult environment in which journalists and human rights defenders operate, citing harassment, arbitrary arrests and the alleged misuse of laws, including provisions of the Cybercrimes Act.
He also identified political and voter intimidation, prohibitive nomination fees that exclude women, young people and persons with disabilities, hate speech, incitement and regulatory uncertainties surrounding digital platforms as threats to inclusive political participation.
Ojukwu further criticised the lack of accountability for electoral offences, warning that the failure to prosecute perpetrators could encourage further violations.
“As long as people can commit these election-related offences and go scot-free, then anybody can try anything they like,” he said.
He described the developments as warning signs rather than irreversible outcomes, insisting that there was still an opportunity to address the challenges before the elections.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Dantalle, said experiences from recent off-cycle elections, particularly the campaign period preceding the Osun State governorship election, highlighted the urgent need to tackle electoral violence.
His goodwill message, read by Chinedu Obi, stressed that democracy must be protected throughout the electoral process, from campaigns and voter mobilisation to voting, collation and the declaration of results.
He urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns, tolerance and responsible communication.
“As we approach 2027, political competition must not become warfare. Political opponents are not enemies, and electoral victory must never be pursued at the expense of human lives, public peace and national unity,” he said.
Dantalle called on political actors to collectively reject electoral violence, hate speech, voter suppression and intimidation, warning that such conduct could undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.
