Get Guardian on GoogleThe Grassroots Center for Rights & Civic Orientation (GRACO) has called for the removal of security personnel who fail to prevent political violence or refuse to investigate and prosecute perpetrators ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The organisation also urged law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute sponsors of politically motivated attacks.
It warned that the growing culture of impunity could undermine political participation and the credibility of the electoral process.
Executive Director of GRACO, Armsfree Ajanaku, in a statement on Saturday condemned the rising incidents of political violence across the country, accusing some political actors of making provocative statements capable of inciting their supporters against opposition figures.
Ajanaku said failure to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of promoting violence had emboldened perpetrators and contributed to the escalation of attacks.
He said the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which prohibit electoral violence, must be enforced rather than remain mere provisions in the legal framework.
It identified Delta, Ekiti, Lagos, Sokoto and Kebbi among states where incidents of political violence had been recorded, warning that attacks on political candidates and supporters posed a threat to peaceful participation in the 2027 elections.
GRACO said the first step towards addressing the situation was to hold influential sponsors of politically motivated attacks accountable, stressing that those who mobilised thugs to intimidate political opponents should face the full weight of the law.
It, however, expressed concern over what it described as the lackadaisical approach of the Nigeria Police to preventing attacks and maintaining law and order.
“The Nigeria Police, the main institution saddled with the task of preventing the breakdown of law and order, cannot make this happen, if it continues with the current lackadaisical approach of looking the other way as innocent Nigerians get attacked by thugs and miscreants,” the statement said.
The group urged law enforcement agencies to stop acting as bystanders in the face of political attacks, calling on them to take preventive measures, investigate reported incidents and prosecute both sponsors and those directly involved.
It further demanded the removal of police officers who failed to prevent attacks in their areas of responsibility or neglected their duties to investigate and prosecute suspects.
GRACO specifically condemned the October 30 attack on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and members of his party, demanding the arrest and prosecution of all suspects linked to the incident.
It also condemned the November 12 attack on a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos, describing the incident as premeditated.
According to the organisation, the fact that both attacks occurred in central parts of their respective state capitals raised questions about the effectiveness of the police commands in those areas.
“Subsequently, the actions or inactions of the security agencies where any political attacks happen should be starting point for accountability,” it said.
The group urged security agencies to activate their administrative mechanisms to ensure that officers responsible for maintaining security across the country either discharged their duties or faced appropriate sanctions.
It warned that the rising violence could discourage Nigerians from participating in the electoral process, adding that security agencies must demonstrate their commitment to protecting citizens as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
GRACO said Nigeria must not allow a situation where political thugs and other criminal elements could attack citizens without consequences.
