Nigeria's Peace Accord: A Fading Promise?

Strategic Insights -

The Nigerian National Peace Committee (NPC) formed a peace accord aimed at ensuring free and fair elections in the country. Although 18 political parties signed the agreement in September 2022, violence and intimidation continue to mar the electoral process. State-controlled parties have been the perpetrators of these acts, with opposition parties facing the brunt of the violence. Despite the NPC's influence, culprits have not been sanctioned, and political leaders subtly encourage their supporters to unleash violence.

Key Takeaways:

  • 18 political parties signed the peace accord in September 2022, but violence and intimidation continue to plague the electoral process.
  • State-controlled parties, such as the APC in Sokoto and Borno States, have been responsible for acts of violence, including attacks on opposition party members and leaders.
  • The NPC has not sanctioned any culprits, and political leaders often subtly encourage their supporters to unleash violence on opposition parties.
  • The violence has resulted in the destruction of billboards, attacks on campaign rallies, and denial of venues for opposition parties to hold rallies.
  • The greatest victims of these acts of violence are opposition parties that do not control any state in the country.

Statistics:

  • 18 political parties signed the NPC's peace accord in September 2022.
  • 17 presidential candidates of other parties signed the agreement, while the APC candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu, was represented by his vice presidential candidate, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.
  • 74 persons were allegedly hospitalised, and over 100 vehicles were vandalised in Borno State during a clash between hoodlums from different political parties in November 2022.
  • 4 gunmen in two motorcycles disrupted a Labour Party meeting at Umuida, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State in October 2022.
  • 1 woman leader of the Labour Party in a Kaduna State local government area was gruesomely murdered by gunmen in November 2022.

Sources:

  • National Peace Committee (NPC)
  • President Muhammadu Buhari
  • General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd)
  • Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar II
  • Cardinal John Onayeikan
  • Bishop Hassan Kukah
  • Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
  • All Progressives Congress (APC)
  • Labour Party (LP)