Insecurity Threatens 2027 Elections – Experts Warn At Policy Dialogue
As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, experts have raised serious concerns about the country’s growing insecurity and its impact on democratic processes.
Speaking at a one-day policy dialogue on election security and reforms, in Abuja, legal expert Barrister Ifeanyichukwu Agoha warned that elections, once a celebration of democracy, have become a source of anxiety for politicians and fear for voters.
“Elections are meant to be festive occasions where citizens give legitimacy to leadership,” he said, “but today, they are increasingly defined by fear, violence, and exclusion.”
With over 50 attacks on INEC facilities recorded in 2023, Agoha lamented that despite a surge in election security spending from ₦18 billion in 2015 to ₦45 billion in 2023 the outcomes remain far from optimal.
He commended efforts such as the development of INEC’s Electoral Risk Preparedness Framework, the creation of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, and reforms within the Electoral Institute.
However, he stressed that more must be done to address physical and institutional threats that create a hostile environment for elections.
Chinedu Udeh of the National Defence College echoed similar sentiments, describing security as a vital pillar for credible elections and Nigeria’s democratic future.
“The use of security agencies to intimidate voters and political opponents is not only undemocratic but also undermines the credibility of our elections,” Udeh said.
He called for stronger accountability among security agencies and a renewed commitment to securing the electoral process.
As the countdown to 2027 begins, the message from the dialogue was clear: Nigeria must urgently prioritise election security and reforms to protect its democracy from further erosion.
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