The National Peace Committee said 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory recorded 109 breaches of the National Peace Accord over 10 weeks of monitoring, raising concerns about potential threats to peaceful campaigns and the 2027 general elections.
The centre, in its monitoring report covering the period between August 19 and October 27, obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday, identified political violence and thuggery, as well as misinformation and disinformation, as the leading violations, accounting for 33 and 29 incidents, respectively.
It identified Kaduna, Edo and Enugu as election flashpoints, citing recurring political violence, armed disruptions and other security concerns, revealing that the Federal Capital Territory also recorded seven incidents, while Kaduna had the highest number, with nine.
The panel called for investigations into reported violations and urged security agencies to provide equal protection for lawful campaign activities. It also asked political parties and candidates to condemn violence, disown armed groups and ensure accountability for threats and intimidation.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections commenced on August 19, while those for the governorship and State Assembly polls began on September 9.
Against this backdrop, 19 political parties signed the National Peace Accord in Abuja on August 18, pledging to uphold 12 standards aimed at promoting peaceful and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under the agreement, the parties and their candidates committed to rejecting violence, threats and intimidation.
Other commitments covered issue-based campaigns, the dissemination of truthful political information, responsible use of digital media, inclusive participation, respect for electoral and security institutions, rejection of the partisan misuse of public authority and civil communication among political actors.
According to the report, the 109 recorded breaches represented an average of about 11 incidents weekly, with political violence and thuggery accounting for the largest category.
It identified that “33 incidents of political violence and thuggery, representing 30.3 per cent of the total, while 29 cases of misinformation and disinformation accounted for 26.6 per cent.
“Attacks on political activities and campaign assets accounted for 19 incidents, representing 17.4 per cent, while intimidation and threats recorded 15 cases, or 13.8 per cent.”
The report also documented seven incidents of restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, four inflammatory statements, one intra-party conflict and one case of voter inducement.
It stated that, “The four leading categories accounted for 88 per cent, representing 96 of the 109 breaches recorded during the monitoring period. And 57 incidents, representing 52 per cent of the total, did not involve physical attacks”.
The Peace Committee warned that threats, false information, restrictions on expression, divisive rhetoric and voter inducement could undermine citizens’ freedom of choice before election day.
On the geographical spread of the incidents, the report identified Kaduna, Edo, Cross River, Kogi and Borno among the states affected, while its breakdown of the highest recorded counts showed Kaduna leading with nine incidents, followed by Edo, Enugu and the FCT with seven each.
It explained that, “The incidents occurred across different campaign environments, including social media platforms, political rallies, meetings, processions, party offices, campaign materials, public speeches, administrative actions and encounters with security agencies.”
Highlighting some of the flashpoints, the NPC report cited the September 8 obstruction of the convoy of former Anambra State governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, near Makurdi, Benue State.
In Enugu State, the monitoring documented repeated armed disruptions of NDC and Peoples Democratic Party gatherings and party premises between September and October.
The National Peace Committee also documented several incidents of political violence, including the disruption of PDP consultations by gunmen in Calabar South, Cross River State, on October 2, and the reported shooting of an African Democratic Congress supporter during political engagements in Igueben, Edo State, four days later.
In Oyo State, the NPC said violence during a political procession in Ibadan between October 14 and 17 claimed one life, while an APC ward member was reportedly killed days later. It added that allegations linking a council official to the violence were denied.
