2019: Nigeria will witness violence, APC may intimidate opposition – US agency

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on Wednesday released its electoral violence risk assessment in Nigeria.

The agency suggested possible escalation of electoral violence before the 2019 general elections.

The outcome of the U.S. agency’s research findings equally identified Rivers, Kano, Kaduna and Ekiti states, among others, with high risk of political violence in Nigeria.

The research scope, which covered between March and April 2018, was conducted in eight states, including Kano, Kaduna, Ekiti, Adamawa, Plateau, Anambra, Lagos and Rivers states.

A fellow of USIP, Mr. Aly Verjee, who presented the abridge report of the research findings in Kano, said change in the narrative of insecurity in the country, farmers/herdsmen dispute, communal and ethnic crisis presently frustrating the fragile peace, are capable of preventing smooth conduct of elections in 2019.

Verjee, in a paper titled, “Nigeria’s 2019 elections: Change, Continuity and the Risk to Peace, Summary of Key Findings, “said the spade of political instability and internal crisis, especially in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), could worsen the enduring democratic system before the elections.

He said the credibility doubt against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver high expectations when compared to the relative improved performance in 2015 general elections might spark needless violence by the electorate.

Guardian quoted him as saying: “The first ever peaceful transition of power in 2015 raised expectations for the government performance. Many feel their hopes have not been met.

“With this disappointment, we gathered there may be general voter-apathy, particularly from the stronghold of the ruling party and high turn-out in the opposition areas.

“The implications for electoral violence is first, there is possible violence as the ruling party may use intimidating tactics to shore up the votes while similar intimidation could be applied to deter large turn-out of electorate in the opposition strongholds.”

Verjee cautioned INEC and security agencies to strictly adhere to the constitutional responsibilities devoid of bias, partisanship and undue influence.