DE-ESCALATION OF LOOMING CRISIS THROUGH CONFORMITY TO DUE PROCESS
The Community Initiative for Enhanced Peace and Development (CIEPD) with funding support from Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) implemented the Collaborative Election Violence Prevention and Mitigation Project in Rivers State in the 2023 Presidential and Gubernatorial Election.
Following the release of the Final result of the gubernatorial and state house of assembly election, held on the 18th of March 2023 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there has been unrest in the state (Rivers State), Community Initiative for Enhanced Peace and Development (CIEPD) with funding from PIND Foundation hereby makes the following statement:
A key attribute of a credible electoral process is the access to seek redress in court when candidates and political parties feel they have been undone by the outcome of an election.
The 2023 gubernatorial elections in Rivers state may have come and gone but the fallout from the process has been characterized by violent triggers such as intimidation and counter-accusations from all parties involved. This has led to heightened tension in the state. As an organization that is committed to ensuring peace and nonviolent means in resolving disputes, we are concerned by recent happenings and hereby make the following calls to all stakeholders involved:
1. We condemn in its entirety the violence that took place in the wake of the protests by political parties around the Independent National Electoral Commission – Rivers State Office and calls for constitutional means and violence-free measures to resolve electoral disputes.
2. The Independent National Electoral Commission Rivers state should take actions that depict their independent status. They must act and be seen as independent to calm the brewing tension.
3. Security agencies especially the Rivers State Police Command, in dealing with post-electoral complaints should not be seen by the actions and inactions as being partial and used by politicians to witch hunt any political party. They (The police) must act fast to calm the violence to avert the loss of lives and destruction of property.
Finally, we urge all political parties, INEC, and security agencies to play by the rule and allow the law to take its full course to avoid the looming crisis
We stand for peace, as that is the only option.
Long live Rivers State.
Signed.
Community Initiative for Enhanced Peace and Development.
Cross section of Peace Monitors, Actors, Trackers, Media, Political Aspirant and relevant stakeholders
By Smith Nwokocha
COMMUNITY INITIATIVE FOR ENHANCED PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (CIEPD) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FOUNDATION FOR PARTNERSHIP IN THE NIGER DELTA (PIND) Organizes a MULTI STAKEHOLDERS FORUM ON PEACEFUL ELECTIONS. At Grand Tokyu Hotel, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt. Wednesday 8th March, 2023.
The forum started at about 4:00pm, introduction of Dignitaries. Remark from the security agencies present, starting with a Goodwill message from Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Rivers State Command-DCC Dike; he said, Safety and Protection of lives is the mandate of the Security Personnel, to ensure a violent free election. The Assistant Commissioner of Police (Mamman Joseph) representing the Commissioner of Police Rivers State. He emphasized that, Rivers State was violence free compared to other states, during the Presidential Election. He advised that, Electorates should talk to their friends and families at home, to be calm. Ensure, you cast your vote peacefully.
Nathaniel Akpos (State Coordinator, Transition Monitoring Group): Supports CIEPD in ensuring peaceful and non-violent Election in the fourth coming Gubernatorial Election. Stakeholders present spoke on Peaceful and Non-violent Election. They all agreed; “We are one accord”.
Comrade Enefa Georgewill (Chairman, Rivers State Civil Society Organization), he emphasized that there is need to sign a Peaceful Accord for Non-violent Election.
PIND Rep: The central objective of Peace Programme is to achieve peace across the region through peace Actors efforts. If Election emerging conflicts are not managed, it could escalate, so with the participation of Community Influencers, it has been helpful.
The Moderator, reiterate that “Whatever we must do to avoid violence, we have to do”.
CIEPD Programme Manager, he said, CIEPD focus is on Peace building and conflict resolution. CIEPD introduced “Conflict Watch Centres”. Since 2015 to present, CIEPD have been able to track elections (three circles of election) in Nigeria. On Saturday, 25th February, 2023, CIEPD in collaboration with PIND deployed 23 Community Stakeholders Network members and 149 Conflict Trackers to monitor the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in 8 LGAs of Rivers State that are high risk electoral violence areas. Their specific roles are to monitor and report conflict indicators and triggers to the CIEPD Situation Room which immediately report to relevant stakeholders for prompt intervention and resolution. The Situation Room was opened on the 24th of February,2023 at 4:00pm. Personnel in the Situation Room includes the following: Egondu Ezinwoke-Ogbalor (Lead), Everest Nwankwo, Courage Nsirimovu, Anthony Abeh and Olorunsola Testimony.
The All Progressive Congress APC House of Assembly Candidate (Prof. Chuku); In his words, he said; this is the worse election filled with fraud. Though, he is an APC faithful, but Labour Party won the Election in his LGA, but at the end of the day, it was massively rigged at the Collation Centre. He emphasized, until people’s voice and choice is respected and counted, there is nothing like Free and Fair Election. If the people in Government want to get power by all means, then, there’sa big problem.
Egondu Ezinwoke-Ogbalor Lead-CIEPD and Prof. Chuku APC House of Assembly candidate
Egondu Ezinwoke-Ogbalor (CIEPD), appreciates the Rep of the APC for honouring the invitation to be present. She equally said, after the Gubernatorial Election and State House of Assembly Elections, there will be a debriefing exercise. The Peace Accord document will be signed by all Candidates, however she read through the document to the hearing of everyone. She used the opportunity to celebrate women and mark International Women’s Day.
Closing, she thanked everyone for coming. The forum ended at about pass 6:00pm and refreshment where served.
This report documents incidents of hate speech, malicious
propagation of fake news, violence and other forms of
elections-related atrocities for the month of January 2023.
Preamble
The month of January was marred by an increased election-related atrocities, including politically-motivated abductions and killings of candidates and politically exposed individuals, particularly in the Southeast region. Facilities belonging to INEC and Police were also attacked and vandalized by gunmen. The growing trend of violent crimes ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria is eroding the civic space and represents the largest threat to the peaceful conduct of the elections. Some of the political actors are blaming these incidents on their political opponents while security agencies are attributing the carnage against INEC and some politicians in the southeast to separatist groups such as IPOB. Nonetheless, these attacks have the tendency to significantly impact the election process and could disrupt election activities both during and after the 2023 general elections.
War of Words
As the 2023 elections approach, political tensions are rising and leading to verbal confrontations and violence. The spokespersons of the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were engaged in a heated exchange, and their followers and supporters took the verbal war to social media.
There were accusations and counter-accusations between the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Magnus Abe and the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesome Wike.
Furthermore, supporters of two political leaders, Hon Ferdinard Dozie Nwankwo of APGA and Senator Uche Ekwunife of PDP, were involved in a physical altercation on January 7, 2023, which highlights how the heated language of the political elites is inciting violence between their supporters.
Voter Intimidation/Suppression
In the southeast region, a group of ten gunmen destroyed campaign materials and announced that there would be no election in Biafra land at Orie Mbah Market Akpugo, Nkanu West LGA, Enugu State, on January 28, 2023. This incident is causing fear among citizens who may have to risk their lives to participate in the election.
Election Atrocities Impact on Nigeria ‘s0 Civic Space
The growing election violence and hate speech in the weeks leading up to the elections is further shrinking the civic space in Nigeria. Desperate politicians are suppressing opposing voices, restricting the rights to freedom of association and expression. This is causing a further decline in trust in the Nigerian democratic process and could result in a larger number of citizens being disenfranchised due to fear of violence.
Hate Speech
Politicians in some parts of the country have resorted to the use of inflammatory hate speech in their campaigns. One such instance was the derogatory remarks made by the current Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly during a campaign at Ohokobe Ibeku Umuahia North, Abia state where he referred to the candidate of the Labour Party as a son of nobody who could be easily dealt with by his supporters. A few days later, the convoy of the Labour Party candidate was attacked.
The APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claimed the Labour Party Presidential Candidate is the Biblical Peter that denied Jesus Christ three times before the cock crowed. The statement was made at the APC Presidential Campaign rally at Awka, Anambra state on January 31, 2023. A day earlier, in his campaigns in Akwa Ibom, Tinubu had called out the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel for supporting the Presidential candidate of his party, the PDP, and referred to him as “that boy”. Such statements have the potential of instigating reprisals and uncontrolled use of hate speech.
A political rally in Ahiaba primary school field, Abia State was disrupted on January 13, 2023 after the Abia State Governor and a member of the State House of Assembly representing Obingwa West made offensive remarks about a current Senator. In response, Youths from the community massed and caused destruction, leading to police shooting.
Again, on January 30, 2023, in Enugu State, a group of youths invited to Arthur Eze residence for a rally, turned hostile and insulted the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), burning the campaign materials given to them.
Additionally, there have been instances of disinformation and fake news spreading, including a reported but unverified attack on a man wearing the Labour Party campaign shirt and claims of a doctored video.
While slanderous comments, hate speech, politically motivated violence and the use of thugs are tactics that have been employed by Nigerian politicians in past elections to intimidate and harass voters and political opponents, the use of these antics has been magnified by the aid of social media where politicians and their sympathizers generate and share fake news and hate speech against opponents and their supporters at little to no cost.
The violence against INEC resources, personnel and facilities continued in January 2023, with the arson attack on INEC facilities in Enugu South LGA, Enugu State, on January 15th. In addition to the attack on the INEC facility, there were two cases of destruction of Police stations. They include:
The bombing of Afor Atta Divisional Police Headquarters in the Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on January 2, 2023, resulting in the complete destruction of the Police Station.
The attack on the Ndiegoro Police Station in Abia state on January 17, 2023, resulting in the death of one Police Inspector.
The attack on the Oguta Police Station, Oguta LGA in Imo state on January 21, 2023, resulting in the death of one Police Officer.
Other security personnel were also not spared in these politically motivated attacks in the month of January. These include:
The abduction of the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Pankshin Division, Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State on January 12, 2023.
The killing of one female Police Officer attached to the highway patrol team of the Imo State Police Command on January 25, 2023, in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo state.
The killing of two soldiers at the military checkpoint at Idodo in Enugu state on January 28, 2023.
The killing of three Police Officers at Ebonyi State border checkpoint along the Enugu/Abakaliki highway on January 28, 2023.
The incessant attacks on police formations by gunmen wielding assault rifles pose a threat to a peaceful election in the country.
Attacks on Politicians and other Politically Exposed Persons
The month of January saw numerous attacks on politically exposed individuals, with at least 15 abductions (including 1 Police Officer) and at least 30 killings (including 11 security personnel) excluding security agents. There were also at least 6 attacks at political campaign rallies.
A bomb hit the convoy of a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim on January 2, causing the death of three police officers and a paramilitary official.
on January 8, 2023, Hon. Sunkanmi Obisesan, the Chief of Staff to the Osun State Speaker was attacked by gunmen in Ifofin, Ilesa
The same January 8, gunmen attacked the APC Presidential Campaign office in Ilesa, Osun.
A former Edo State House of Assembly member, Festus Edughele was abducted in Edo State on January 9, 2023.
Gunmen bombed Ihiala Local Government Headquarters in Anambra State which housed the administrative block of the council, INEC office, Health Office department, NYSC, Education department and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Office on January 12, 2023 resulting in the death of three people.
Gunmen attacked the residence of the spokesperson of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in Imo State on January 14, 2023, killing four people.
A wife and 6 children of the District Head of Mutumbiyu, Sani Muhammad, a second-class chief in Jalingo, Taraba state were abducted at their home on January 19, 2023.
Mr. Sale Yakubu, a Councilor in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State was killed on January 19, 2023, by a yet-to-be-identified gunman.
A Catholic Priest, the Catechist of St. Monica Catholic Church, Ikulu-Pari, Kefas Ishaya in Chawai Chiefdom of Kauru, Kaduna was abducted on January 19, 2023, in an attempted attack on Rev Fr Joseph Shekari, who was not in his residence at the time of the attack.
There was a twin explosion that rocked the campaign rally of the APC at the Rumuwoji Playground in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on January 19, 2023.
One person was killed and many others injured when gunmen invaded a rally organized by the PDP at Ward 7 Ewu community in Esan Central LGA, Edo on January 20, 2023.
A Plateau State First class traditional ruler, the Agwom Izere, His Royal Highness Dr. Isaac Azi Wakili was abducted when heavily armed gunmen reportedly invaded his Palace situated in the Shere District of Jos East on January 20, 2023.
The Sole Administrator of Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, Mr Christopher Ohizu was abducted in his residence on January 20, 2023, and subsequently beheaded on January 22, 2023, after his abductors allegedly collected N6 million ransom.
The campaign team of the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi was attacked on his way to the airport in Katsina state after a rally at Muhammad Dikko Stadium on January 23, 2023.
Gunmen attacked and killed Christian Ihim, the Okwe Ward Chairman and member of APC in Okwe, a community in Onuimo Local Government of Imo State and abducted five other chieftains of APC in the community on January 23, 2023.
Thugs attacked members of the APC, in Kaura Namoda LGA, Zamfara State destroying vehicles and motorcycles on January 23, 2023.
Lagos State PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate, Funke Akindele was harassed and chased out of the Ketu Fruit Market in Lagos State on January 24, 2023.
Akilu Kuta, the Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area together with the Niger State APC Assistant Youth Leader, Suleiman Galkogo were attacked during a raid on Kuta town by alleged bandits on January 24, 2023. Three persons were abducted during that incident.
One person was killed and others injured as gunmen attacked the campaign rally of the People’s Democratic Party in Rivers State on January 24, 2023.
The District Head of Chawai in Kauru Local Government of Kaduna State, Chief Joshua Ahmadu was abducted by gunmen who invaded his house at Zambina on January 25, 2023.
Thugs and hoodlums attacked the convoy of the PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate of Ogun State, Adekunle Akinlade, in Ogun State on January 26, 2023.
Three people were killed during an attack involving the convoy of Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), a governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State in the Coker area of Aguda, Surulere Local Government Area of the state on January 27, 2023.
Gunmen attacked the constituency office of the member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State and the spokesperson of the House of Representatives who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs. Barr. Benjamin Kalu on January 27, 2023.
Political thugs raided and set fire to the residence of the APC National Assembly candidate for Ikwerre-Emuoha Federal Constituency, Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi in Omerelu, Ikwerre LGA, Rivers State on January 28, 2023.
At least 11 people were injured as thugs disrupted the APC rally at a primary school field in Onicha Ohaozara Local Government in Ebonyi State, on January 28, 2023.
The Umuogudu Akpu Ngbo office of Ebubeagu Security was attacked by heavily armed men on January 30, 2023, leaving many of the security agents with bullet wounds while the office, vehicles and motorcycle were set ablaze.
The APC Campaign Director in Opobo/Nkoro, Opobo Local Government Area in River State was abducted at the venue of a scheduled rally on January 31, 2023.
The continued occurrence of these attacks without intervention is a cause for concern as it affects the security situation during the elections. The fear of further attacks and dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the security situation could trigger a higher voter apathy.
Conclusion
Despite being largely under-reported, the political violence in the Southeast and other parts of the country is a cause for concern. Though the southeast region is the smallest in land mass, it is home to a part of the citizenry that has felt disconnected, left out and maltreated by successive administrations in Nigeria since the civil war. This has led to a general lack of engagement in past elections.
In Conclusion, the political violence in Nigeria, particularly in the southeast, is a cause for concern and is largely under-reported. The Pre-election incidents, such as the destruction of INEC facilities, are likely deliberate attempts by desperate politicians to instil fear and disrupt the elections. The government needs to take steps to address the increasing wave of insecurity, protect the public and ensure the integrity of the 2023 general elections.
Incident Centre for Election Atrocities (#ICEA): +234911 302 1303
CONCERNS OF DISENFRANCHISEMENT WITH UNPRINTED PVCS & UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
“You cannot live a normal existence if you have not taken care of a problem that affects your life and affects the lives of others; that is the value you hold which in fact defines your very existence.”
– Wole Soyinka
(Nobel Laureate)
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards will end this Sunday, January 29th at 5pm.
However, reports from voters in different collection centres across the country revealed that some validly registered voters were informed by the INEC officials that their PVCs were not available; while some others were asked to return on a later day beyond the deadline or after the election to collect their PVCs. This is a breach of the Electoral Act 2022 which mandates INEC in Section 16(1) to design, print and issue voter’s cards to voters whose names appear in the register of voters. INEC also, had further committed to and promised that everyone registered and, in their database, will have their PVC provided and available for collection. The emphasis on a deadline for collection is an indirect disenfranchisement of validly registered voters whose PVCs are not available due to INEC’s administrative lapses. Denying these voters their right to vote due to a failure on the part of INEC is unacceptable.
And to be clear, this is not only a problem in Lagos. Citizens have provided reports from Abuja, Rivers, Delta, Anambra, Imo, Ondo, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Borno, Sokoto, Ogun, Kano, & Kwara.
We also note the concern of the students who registered at home while tertiary institutions were shut down for over 8 months. According to INEC, 40% of the 9,518,188 newly registered voters are students. If they registered at home and are now at school, INEC must ensure they can pick up their cards in the least expensive way possible.
Reclaim Naija has received hundreds of calls and texts from its observers across the country about these challenges. With six episodes of Twitter Spaces and three Instagram Lives with different INEC officials; in addition to reports submitted through its www.rsvp.ng Complaints Portal, EiE Nigeria has supported over 10,000 voters through this PVC Collection process.
Given the reported challenges, we ask that INEC do the following:
Inform Nigerians if it is still printing cards and when all the cards for registered voters will be available for collection.
Extend PVC Collection to ensure that everyone whose cards were not found are reprinted, and there is a clear process for them to pick up the cards.
Work with the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure that there are no classes or exams the week before elections so students can go home to vote.
Communicate with newly registered voter’s especially students when the PVCs are ready.
Create a dedicated desk for civil society organisations, media and citizens to escalate the issues being observed for quick resolution.
The engine to drive this process is clear and proactive information sharing from INEC. There are high expectations for this election and INEC can not be seen to be deliberately or inadvertently disenfranchising certain groups of people.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
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Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) (www.thecjid.org) is a media innovation think tank founded in 2014 to enable a West African media that advances the values of human rights and democratic accountability. CJID builds and/ incubates innovative media platforms including Premium Times, Dubawa, Leaks.ng, and gosi.app. We also provide thought leadership to deepen the inclusive development discourse and tackle information disorder in the region.
ConnectHub (www.connecthubng.org) is a human rights platform that documents, defends and advocates against police brutality and state violence in Nigeria.
Dataphyte (www.dataphyte.org) is a media, research and data analytics committed to driving national development in Nigeria through civic technology, data access, and policy advisory. Dataphyte’s data-driven policy advocacy and accountability platforms include Dataphyte Elections, Anfani, Goloka, Dataplex and Open Data.
Enough is Enough Nigeria (www.eie.ng) is a network of individuals and organizations committed to instituting a culture of good governance and public accountability in Nigeria through active citizenship. EiE’s #RSVP – Register | Select | Vote | Protect is Nigeria’s longest-runing get-out-the-vote campaign. EiE was an integral part of the #OccupyNigeria movement in 2012; co-leads the #OpenNASS campaign and launched the #OfficeOfTheCitizen campaign to mark its 5th anniversary in 2015. It publishes a collection of essays to mark its decade plus of impact in 2022 – Footprints: Past | Present | Future.
#FixPolitics (www.fixpolitics.org) is a citizens-led research-based initiative advocating for structural change of politics and governance in Nigeria and on the African continent. #FixPolitics recently launched its Office Of The Citizen (OOTC) campaign in Nigeria and is currently executing its 2023 Elections:Matters Arising awareness campaign Initiative.
Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) (www.kdi.org.ng) is a youth-focused nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovernmental organization that inspires citizen-led democratic development that is anchored on the principles of participation, data-driven advocacy, promotion of strong democratic institutions, and public policies.
Reclaim Naija (aka Community Life Project – CLP) (www.communitylifeproject.org) is a nation non-profit organisation challenging inequality and advancing social justice by empowering marginalised grassroots communities.
The Electoral College Nigeria (www.electoralcollng.org) is a political literacy institution that takes civic education up another notch. ECN believes political literacy is critical to every sphere of a democracy and has involvement in debates, virtual courses and training for elected and political appointees. ECN has partnerships with CJID on its Politeracy 101 course; with states on LG Chairpersons Training and the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) on debates.
Women Advocates and Research Development Centre (WARDC) (www.wardcnigeria.org) is a feminist human rights organisation supporting gender justice and good governance.
Yiaga Africa (www.yiaga.org) is a non-profit civic hub of change makers committed to the promotion of democratic governance, human rights and civic engagement. We focus on in-depth research, providing critical analysis on key democratic and governance issues, crafting practical solutions, training and empowering citizens to lead change in their community.
PHwakawaka 