27 dead as CentreSGD reports 70 election-related attacks ahead of 2027 polls

The African Centre for Security, Governance and Development (CentreSGD) has reported 70 physical election-related attacks across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory between January 1 and October 27, 2026, resulting in 27 deaths.

The centre’s Executive Director, Theresa Chigozirim Odinkalu-Okoro, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, warning that the rising incidents of political violence pose a serious threat to the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

She said attacks targeting political candidates, supporters, campaign convoys and party offices had heightened concerns about the safety of the electoral process.

Citing the CLEEN Foundation’s Election Security Threat Assessment and Yiaga Africa’s National Voting Intentions Survey conducted in September 2026, CentreSGD said 61 percent of Nigerians feared that violence could prevent them from voting in the forthcoming elections.

The level of concern was higher in the North-East, where 78 per cent of respondents expressed fears that insecurity could stop them from participating in the polls.

Among the incidents highlighted by the centre were attacks on Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters in Enugu State, attacks on All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign convoys in Malumfashi and Yankara, Katsina State, and the assault on African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and his entourage in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

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The organisation also cited allegations of attacks on the convoy of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, as well as ADC campaign convoys, including that of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Kebbi State.

It, however, acknowledged that some of the allegations had been disputed by the parties and authorities involved.

CentreSGD clarified that it was not pronouncing on culpability but calling for comprehensive investigations and prosecution wherever evidence established responsibility.

The organisation urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to investigate all reported election-related attacks promptly, transparently and without political bias.

It also called for the prosecution of those found responsible for the violence, including individuals who sponsored or facilitated the attacks.

“Elections should be a contest of ideas and popular mandate, not a test of physical force or armed coercion,” the centre said.

It warned that democracy could not thrive in an atmosphere of fear, stressing the need for urgent action to protect voters, political actors and the integrity of the 2027 electoral process.