The EU warns Nigerian politicians against 2027 election violence, urging parties to reject intimidation, hate speech and attacks on political opponents
The European Union (EU) has warned Nigerian political parties, candidates and their supporters against turning the 2027 general elections into a period of violence, intimidation and hate speech, saying such conduct could undermine democratic participation and discourage citizens from exercising their voting rights.
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EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, gave the warning on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, during a Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders Forum on the State of Human Rights in Abuja.
Mignot’s warning comes amid growing concerns over attacks and threats associated with political activities across the country as parties begin preparations for the 2027 polls.
One of the incidents occurred on November 7 in Asaba, Delta State, where a political procession and rally organised by supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was reportedly attacked along Nnebisi Road.
The incident allegedly left one person dead and five others injured.
Three days earlier, the convoy of NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi was attacked in Calabar, Cross River State.
The police confirmed that vehicles were damaged and announced the arrest of a suspect.
In another incident in October, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) travelling to a campaign flag-off in Funtua, Katsina State, were attacked along the Yashi-Funtua route.
The incident reportedly left a female passenger injured, damaged several vehicles and resulted in the arrest of 14 suspects.
The National Peace Committee has also disclosed that it recorded 60 election-related incidents within one month, including threats, intimidation and violence.
Speaking at the Abuja forum, Mignot stressed that protecting political and civic freedoms was essential to ensuring that Nigerians could participate in elections without fear.
He identified independent media, civil society organisations, peaceful assembly and freedom of expression as important safeguards for electoral transparency and accountability.
The EU ambassador also assured participants that the organisation would continue working with Nigerian institutions, including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and civil society groups to strengthen democratic governance.
“Our objective is not to interfere in the elections but to support legitimate Nigerian stakeholders to fully play their roles in order to contribute to a free, fair, credible electoral process,” Mignot said.
“Stakeholders, the public sector, civil society, political parties, the media, all have a very important role to play.”
The forum was organised by the NHRC under the theme, Protecting Human Rights in Civic and Political Spaces in the 2027 Elections.
In his remarks, NHRC Executive Secretary, Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, warned that growing challenges facing journalists, human rights defenders and political participants required urgent attention.
Ojukwu identified harassment, arbitrary arrests, alleged misuse of the Cybercrimes Act, hate speech, voter intimidation and restrictions on political participation as threats to Nigeria’s democratic environment.
He also expressed concern that high nomination fees could prevent women, young people and persons with disabilities from contesting elective positions.
The NHRC chief further criticised the lack of accountability for electoral offences, warning that perpetrators could continue violating the law if they were not brought to justice.
“As long as people can commit these election-related offences and go scot-free, then anybody can try anything they like,” he said.
Ojukwu maintained that democracy should not be measured solely by the conduct of elections, stressing that citizens must also enjoy their constitutional freedoms between electoral cycles.
“When that right is suppressed, democracy does not merely stumble; it begins to die, quietly, through apathy, fear and distrust,” he added.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Dantalle, urged political parties and their supporters to reject violence and embrace issue-based campaigns ahead of the elections.
Dantalle’s goodwill message, delivered by Chinedu Obi, highlighted lessons from recent off-cycle elections, particularly the campaign period preceding the Osun State governorship election.
He called for political tolerance, responsible communication and stronger measures to protect voters and political participants.
“As we approach 2027, political competition must not become warfare.
Political opponents are not enemies, and electoral victory must never be pursued at the expense of human lives, public peace and national unity,” he stated.
IPAC also urged political stakeholders to collectively reject hate speech, voter suppression, intimidation and violence to create an atmosphere for peaceful and credible elections in 2027.
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The warnings from the EU, NHRC and IPAC underscore the growing importance of protecting democratic freedoms as political activities intensify ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections.
