The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has launched a multistakeholder initiative to prevent and mitigate election-related violence ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections in 24 high-risk local government areas across Akwa Ibom, Delta and Rivers States.

PIND signed Memoranda of Agreement with Youth for Change Initiative in Akwa Ibom, One Love Community Development and Promotion of Peace Initiative in Delta, and Community Resource Development Foundation in Rivers State.

The agreements establish a consortium framework for coordinated implementation across the three states.

The intervention combines conflict Early Warning and Early Response (EWER), multistakeholder coordination, strategic media engagement and community-based peacebuilding to detect risks early, improve information sharing and support timely action before, during and after the elections.

PIND’s Peacebuilding Program Manager, Dr David Udofia, speaking on behalf of PIND’s Executive Director, Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo, said prevention must begin well before election day.

“Election violence is rarely an isolated event; warning signs often emerge long before voting begins. This initiative will help communities and institutions identify those signals early, share reliable information and coordinate action before tensions escalate into violence.

“The project is strictly non-partisan. Its purpose is to protect lives, strengthen peaceful civic participation and support credible electoral processes through local ownership, responsible communication and evidence-led response,” Udofia added.

The initiative will strengthen PIND’s Integrated Peace and Development Unit (IPDU) conflict early-warning platform by expanding community-based reporting networks, improving incident verification and analysis, and generating actionable information for peace actors, electoral institutions, security agencies and other stakeholders.

It will also promote election-violence scenario planning, mediation and dialogue, stakeholder forums, targeted advocacy and peace messaging. The project plans to engage 15 radio and television stations alongside digital platforms to promote conflict-sensitive reporting, counter misinformation and disinformation, and discourage inflammatory narratives.

The targeted locations are Uyo, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, Esit Eket, Nsit Ubium, Abak, Ini and Etim Ekpo in Akwa Ibom; Warri North, Warri South, Warri South-West, Ethiope East, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli North, and Ughelli South in Delta; and Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Khana, Eleme, Asari-Toru, Ahoada East, and Andoni in Rivers.

The states and LGAs were selected using evidence from PIND’s Peace Map and other credible sources, including historical patterns of electoral violence and emerging political and conflict dynamics.

The intervention will work with community leaders, women and youth groups, civil society, the media, electoral institutions and security actors to strengthen local prevention and response mechanisms.

PIND previously supported election-related violence prevention during Nigeria’s 2015, 2019 and 2023 electoral cycles through voter sensitization, early warning and coordinated multistakeholder responses. The new initiative builds on those lessons while extending attention across the pre-election, election and post-election periods.

Following the launch, consortium partners will commence technical planning and coordinated prevention activities across the three states pre, during and post 2027 general elections.