Nigeria's electoral process continues to be plagued by violence, despite repeated peace accords and pledges by political actors to ensure peaceful elections. The persistence of violence has raised concerns about the effectiveness of these agreements and stakeholders' commitment to turning their promises into action. Every election cycle, political parties and candidates promise to play by the rules, shun violence, and accept the outcome of the ballot. However, the recurrence of political violence has become a familiar feature of Nigeria's electoral calendar.
The National Peace Committee, established to facilitate peace accords, has been a regular feature of Nigeria's electoral process since 2015. The committee's efforts have been aimed at curbing political violence, thuggery, and inflammatory campaigns. One of the most notable examples of the committee's work was during the 2015 election, when then-President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari, easing tensions surrounding the closely contested election. Since then, similar peace agreements have been signed before subsequent elections, but violence has continued to mar the electoral process.
The 2023 general election highlighted the gap between signing a peace agreement and complying with its provisions. The National Peace Committee's 2023 Peace Accord Monitoring Report recorded 89 clause infractions across 52 instances, with breaches of the commitment to issue- and policy-based campaigning among the most prominent violations. The committee identified personality-focused and ethnic-based attacks by political actors and their spokespeople, demonstrating that signing the accord did not automatically prevent political actors from engaging in conduct contrary to the spirit and provisions of the agreement.
According to Asabe Ndahi, Project Manager at the Kukah Centre Secretariat of the National Peace Committee, the committee intervened at various stages of the 2023 electoral process when the conduct of political actors and the reactions of their supporters raised concerns about possible escalation. On January 19, 2023, the committee convened political parties and presidential candidates, presented documented infractions, discussed the risks arising from the reported conduct, and secured renewed commitments to peaceful and responsible political engagement ahead of the February 25, 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The National Peace Committee's efforts have been focused on promoting issue-based campaigns and discouraging inflammatory rhetoric. However, the persistence of violence and inflammatory campaigns has raised questions about the committee's effectiveness in enforcing its mandates. The experience of the 2023 general election suggests that more needs to be done to ensure that political actors comply with the provisions of the peace accord.
The Nigerian electoral process requires a fundamental shift in the way politicians engage with each other and with the electorate. The persistence of violence and inflammatory campaigns has significant implications for the country's democracy and stability. The National Peace Committee and other stakeholders must work together to find a solution to this problem, and ensure that future elections are peaceful and credible.
Ultimately, the success of Nigeria's electoral process depends on the commitment of political actors to peaceful and responsible engagement. The National Peace Committee's efforts have been a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure that politicians are held accountable for their actions. The 2023 general election has highlighted the need for a more effective mechanism for enforcing the provisions of the peace accord and promoting peaceful and credible elections.
Key points
- The National Peace Committee's efforts have been aimed at curbing political violence, thuggery, and inflammatory campaigns.
- The 2023 general election highlighted the gap between signing a peace agreement and complying with its provisions.
- The persistence of violence has significant implications for Nigeria's democracy and stability.
