2027 Elections: Attacks On Party Supporters Raise Security Fears

Police vow arrest of violence sponsors 

Condemnations trail attacks of NDC, APC supporters in Lagos, Katsina

TARKAA DAVID AND EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja

Security experts have raised the alarm over increasing attacks on political party supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the incidents could escalate unless security agencies take decisive action against perpetrators.

They spoke as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, vowed to arrest and prosecute politicians and influential individuals sponsoring electoral violence, warning that those financing political thuggery would not be spared.

The National Peace Committee (NPC), in its latest monitoring report covering August 19 to October 27, also warned that recurring armed disruptions of political activities, threats by political officeholders and the spread of fake political information could undermine peaceful campaigns and threaten the credibility of the 2027 elections.

The report identified political violence and thuggery as the leading violations, accounting for 33 incidents, followed by misinformation and disinformation with 29 cases. Attacks on political activities and campaign materials recorded 19 incidents, while intimidation and threats accounted for 15. Kaduna recorded the highest number of reported violations with nine incidents, while Edo, Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory recorded seven each. The committee identified Enugu, Oyo, Edo and Cross River as areas requiring urgent attention over recurring armed disruptions. Benue and Kogi were also flagged over security risks surrounding political convoys and movements.

The development comes barely three months after 19 political parties signed the National Peace Accord in Abuja on August 18, committing themselves to peaceful, issue-based campaigns and rejecting violence, threats and intimidation ahead of the elections. Security Experts Raise Concerns A former Defence spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd.), described the growing pre-election violence as disturbing and urged security agencies to act swiftly before the situation escalates. He said: “All well-meaning patriots and security agencies must be interested in urgent solutions to this danger if our civilisation and democracy are to survive.

“There’s an urgent need for the  official state apparatus for management of violence to be swift in dealing with all these illegal agents of violence and intimidation without any form of bias or discrimination.

“The appropriate security agencies should confirm their necessary apolitical and patriotic disposition by shunning any consideration of which political party or personality benefits from illegal acts such as thuggery or other forms of terrorism against opponents. “

Indeed, the party or camp of the criminal should not count when dealing with perpetrators of political violence.

The trend is certainly inimical to the nation’s security as well as democracy, both now and in the future.” A former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Barrister Mike Ejiofor, said the attacks confirmed his earlier prediction that the country would witness widespread electoral violence. “I predicted earlier that we are going to witness a lot of electoral violence, and it’s manifesting already.

It’s quite unfortunate that politicians are bent on destroying the country. If they end up destroying the country, who would they govern? “We are just seeing the tip of the iceberg. It’s going to be more, and our security agencies should take decisive action against culprits to serve as a deterrent to others. If we continue to overlook some of these things, we are going to witness more violence,” he said.

He questioned the rationale behind political violence, stressing that politics should be about service to the people. “If you kill the people, who are you going to serve?” he queried. Ejiofor attributed the violence to the high stakes in the 2027 elections, urging security agencies and peace committees at ward, local government and state levels to engage political leaders, particularly those of major parties. He called on security agencies  to ensure that perpetrators were prosecuted to deter others, adding that the growing tension required urgent intervention.

On his part, a fellow of the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS), Abdullahi Mohammed Jabi, warned that the attacks indicated that the electoral process could become increasingly disorderly. “If violence becomes the order of the day, then it’s an invitation to anarchy, and there can be a question of military invasion of the political space once again. That is what we don’t want, because we are to sustain democracy and ensure that citizens benefit from its dividends. “So every state actor, electorate, traditional ruler, security agency, media organisation, electoral umpire and political party must ensure discipline among their members to avoid violencerelated activities,” he said. Jabi urged political parties to rein in their supporters, stressing that a free, fair and peaceful election required collective responsibility.

“Nobody is immune to violence, and we must be very, very careful. We have enough on our hands. That is the advocacy that should be everywhere now. The media should help amplify it so that security agencies can take it seriously and deal decisively with perpetrators to nip it in the bud before the election proper,” he added. Similarly, a retired Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Alobi, warned that the reported attacks were indicators of possible violence during the 2027 elections. He said the situation could discourage voters from participating in the polls for fear of being attacked.

“From recent developments, the 2027 election is going to be violent. These are warning signals. The indicators show that there may be violence because we have been hearing of killings and other incidents which are not healthy for democracy. It will not bring about the desired peaceful and credible election. It may compel people to disenfranchise themselves by deciding not to vote,” he said. Alobi warned that violence could undermine the principle of majority votes and urged the police, as the lead agency responsible for election security, to begin preparations immediately.

“The police should start now to ensure that they carry out sensitisation and training for officers and men on how to police elections and ensure a free and fair election,” he said. He also urged citizens to support security agencies in maintaining peace.

Police Vow Crackdown On Sponsors

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has vowed to go after politicians and influential individuals sponsoring electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Disu said the police would not spare anyone found recruiting, financing or mobilising youths to attack political opponents, intimidate supporters or disrupt campaign activities. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Iniedu Anietie, said the IGP had directed commissioners of police in all state commands and the Federal Capital Territory to strengthen security measures against political violence. He said the commissioners had been instructed to prevent attacks on campaign materials, investigate reported incidents and ensure that perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted. Anietie stressed that the crackdown would extend beyond those physically carrying out attacks to politicians and other sponsors who recruit, encourage or finance such activities, where evidence establishes their involvement.

The police also warned political thugs and hoodlums against destroying campaign posters, banners and billboards, noting that such acts could constitute malicious damage punishable under applicable laws, including Section 451 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 326 of the Penal Code Law. The Force maintained that every political party and candidate, irrespective of affiliation or status, was entitled to equal protection under the law and freedom to campaign without intimidation. It urged political parties, candidates and supporters to embrace peaceful engagement and avoid actions capable of threatening national security.

However, the police did not disclose whether any suspects had been arrested in connection with the reported attacks.

APC, NDC Trade Blame Over Lagos Attack

Expectedly, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have traded accusations following an attack on NDC supporters during a town hall meeting in Oregun, Ikeja area of Lagos State. The incident occurred on Thursday at Classic Event Place, where NDC supporters had gathered ahead of the expected visit of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

An NDC ward chairman in Lagos, Olamilekan Olayiwola, who is also the Ward F chairman and security coordinator for the event, alleged that about 50 suspected political thugs invaded the venue with guns, cutlasses, axes and other dangerous weapons. He said party members had started arriving around 8am when they noticed five commercial buses, reportedly LT buses, parked outside the premises.

“The incident happened as supporters were waiting for preparations at the hall to be completed ahead of Peter Obi’s arrival. “The attack started around 8am. Before it happened, I saw five LT buses parked outside the premises, with their occupants threatening to scatter everything. “They had guns, cutlasses and axes. They attacked us, forcing some of our members to mobilise the women to defend themselves,” he said.

Olayiwola said four members sustained injuries, while several others lost their mobile phones during the ensuing confusion. He also expressed concern over the security arrangements, claiming that only two Department of State Services (DSS) operatives were present when the attackers struck. He said the operatives fired warning shots to disperse the assailants.

Eyewitness accounts said the invasion triggered a stampede, forcing participants to flee. Some young NDC supporters, however, resisted the attackers by throwing chairs at them before regrouping and chasing the intruders out of the building.

Police officers subsequently arrived and fired shots into the air to restore order. Two suspected attackers were arrested.

Olayiwola called on political leaders and security agencies to strengthen security at political gatherings and polling units across Lagos, warning that failure to act could lead to more serious violence. “If nothing is done, the situation could turn bloody,” he cautioned.