By NIM Reporter
Nigeria’s battle against terrorism is becoming inseparable from the credibility of its next general election, with the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) warning that insecurity could prevent voters, candidates, journalists and election observers from freely participating in the 2027 polls.
The rights group said the reported decision by the European Union to limit its election observation presence in Nigeria in 2027 should serve as a wake-up call for the Federal Government to urgently address the country’s security challenges.
HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, said the reported EU position was a “bad omen” for Nigeria’s democratic reputation and should not be dismissed as a diplomatic setback.
According to the group, the EU has maintained a significant election observation presence in Nigeria over previous electoral cycles. HURIWA said the reported decision to restrict the EU’s 2027 involvement to a smaller presence in Abuja, without long-term observers across the states, short-term election-day observers or a chief observer, should concern the government and political stakeholders.
The organisation attributed the reported decision to concerns over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation and what it described as the alleged hostile treatment of EU observers and officials following the 2023 elections.
HURIWA said Nigeria cannot deliver credible elections if insecurity prevents citizens from travelling freely, political parties from campaigning, electoral officials from reaching polling locations or observers from independently monitoring the process.
‘Terrorists Must Not Determine Nigeria’s Democratic Future’
The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intensify efforts against terrorism, banditry, insurgency and other violent crimes ahead of the 2027 elections.
It urged the government to sustain military pressure on terrorist organisations while targeting their logistics, financing, recruitment and operational networks.
HURIWA said the goal should be to create an environment in which Nigerians can campaign, vote and participate in political activities without fear.
It warned that criminal groups must not be allowed to determine where citizens can travel, where political candidates can campaign or whether voters can exercise their constitutional rights.
HURIWA Commends Army, Demands Greater Military Coordination
The rights group also commended the Chief of Army Staff over what it described as recent encouraging reports from the Nigerian Army’s counter-terrorism operations.
HURIWA said recent operational developments demonstrate that security forces can achieve meaningful results when they are adequately motivated, equipped and strategically coordinated.
It urged the Chief of Army Staff to build on the reported gains while calling on all service chiefs to develop stronger joint operational strategies against terrorist organisations.
According to the group, greater cooperation is needed among the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and intelligence agencies.
HURIWA argued that terrorist networks operate across institutional and geographical boundaries, making intelligence sharing and coordinated security operations essential.
It called for stronger joint intelligence gathering, operational planning, coordinated air and ground operations and more effective efforts to track terrorist financing and logistics.
The organisation said the objective should go beyond eliminating individual fighters to dismantling the wider networks responsible for recruitment, financing, arming, transportation and sheltering of terrorists.
EU Concerns Should Trigger ‘National Soul-Searching’
HURIWA also urged the Federal Government to examine the concerns it said were raised by the EU regarding the treatment of election observers following the 2023 elections.
The group said international observers should not be regarded as adversaries when they raise concerns about electoral processes.
Instead, it urged Nigerian authorities and political actors to examine credible criticisms, address weaknesses and create a safe environment for both domestic and international observers during the 2027 elections.
‘Secure 2027 Before It Is Too Late’
HURIWA said election security should not begin on polling day, arguing that preparations must start well ahead of the vote.
It said political candidates must be able to travel across the country, parties must be able to conduct lawful campaigns, electoral officials must have access to polling locations, and journalists and observers must be able to work without intimidation.
The group also called for stronger protection of INEC facilities, personnel and electoral materials, as well as vulnerable communities and major transportation corridors.
It urged the Federal Government to intensify counter-terrorism operations, strengthen intelligence sharing, dismantle terrorist financing and recruitment networks and guarantee the safety of voters, candidates, journalists and election observers.
HURIWA said the fight against terrorism should be viewed as part of the broader effort to protect Nigeria’s democracy.
The organisation urged President Tinubu and the service chiefs to use recent military gains as a foundation for a sustained and coordinated security campaign ahead of 2027.
It warned that Nigeria must not allow terrorists to become the “invisible election observers” of 2027 by determining where citizens can vote, where candidates can campaign or where observers can operate.
For HURIWA, the message is clear: a peaceful Nigeria is the foundation for a credible election.
