The African Centre for Security, Governance and Development (CentreSGD) has reported that 70 physical election-related attacks were recorded across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory between January 1 and October 27, 2026, resulting in 27 deaths.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Theresa Chigozirim Odinkalu-Okoro, raised the alarm in a statement on Sunday, warning that rising political violence could threaten the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
According to the centre, attacks targeting political candidates, supporters, campaign convoys and party offices have heightened concerns about the safety of political participation ahead of the polls.
Citing the CLEEN Foundation’s Election Security Threat Assessment and Yiaga Africa’s National Voting Intentions Survey conducted in September 2026, CentreSGD disclosed that 61 per cent of Nigerians surveyed feared violence could prevent them from voting.
The concern was even greater in the North-East, where 78 per cent of respondents expressed fears that insecurity could stop them from exercising their voting rights.
Among the incidents highlighted were attacks on Nigeria Democratic Congress supporters in Enugu, assaults on APC campaign convoys in Malumfashi and Yankara in Katsina State, and an attack on African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and his entourage in Ado-Ekiti.
The centre also referenced allegations involving an attack on the ADC governorship candidate’s convoy in Sokoto and attacks on ADC campaign convoys, including that of presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, in Kebbi State.
However, it acknowledged that some of the allegations had been disputed by the parties and authorities involved, emphasising that it was not assigning blame but calling for thorough investigations.
CentreSGD urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to investigate all reported election-related attacks promptly and transparently, without political bias, and prosecute suspects and their alleged sponsors where evidence supports such action.
The organisation warned that political violence could undermine public confidence in democracy and discourage eligible voters from participating in the 2027 elections.
“Elections should be a contest of ideas and popular mandate, not a test of physical force or armed coercion,” the centre said.
