The latest report by the International
Crisis Group has suggested that with
Nigeria’s politics sliding dangerously
towards violence, the forthcoming general
elections appeared to be in great danger.
According to the report, “Nigeria’s
Dangerous 2015 Elections: Limiting the
Violence”, the general elections,
particularly given the bitter struggle
between the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) and the opposition All
Progressives Congress (APC), would be a
fierce contest that might be rocked by
violence if certain steps are not taken.
“The Boko Haram insurgency, competing
claims to the presidency between the
majority Muslim north and majority
Christian south, inadequate electoral
arrangements and apparent bias by
security agencies all point toward a very
perilous contest whose results may also
be disputed,” the report said.
The authors of the report however called
for urgent improvements in security and
electoral arrangements, as well as in
political mindsets.
The report however examined the
dangerous tide in which electoral
preparations are taking place and
outlined measures which needed to be
taken urgently to curb the already
brewing violence.
The report’s findings and
recommendations include:
. The electoral environment is highly
destabilised by insecurity, particularly in
the North East. The federal government
must strengthen its security apparatus;
work closely with relevant state
governments toward achieving better
results from its counter-insurgency
operations; collaborate much more
effectively with neighbouring countries,
bilaterally and through regional
platforms, and ensure elections are held
in all states.
Preparations for the elections suffer from
a deficient legal framework and lack of
confidence in the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) and the
security agencies. The National Assembly
needs to prioritise amendment of the
electoral law, particularly establishing an
election offences tribunal. INEC needs to
build confidence, including by speedily
producing a credible voter register.
Security agencies need to demonstrate
neutrality in their relations with all
parties.
Leaders of political parties and of
regional, ethnic and religious “pressure
groups” are significantly influencing
electoral preparations and voters’
expectations of their outcomes. Party
leaders and candidates should comply
with the code of conduct their parties
signed voluntarily and hold their
supporters accountable to its provisions.
Regional, ethnic and religious leaders
must also refrain from inflammatory
rhetoric and ensure their followers
pursue their political aspirations
peacefully.
Nigeria’s international partners should
engage all major political actors toward
preventing or mitigating violence before,
during and especially after the polls.
“Boko Haram’s insurgency makes these
elections particularly fraught, but it is
only a microcosm of the country’s
deepening political, religious and ethnic
divides” said Nnamdi Obasi, Nigeria
Senior Analyst. “With only three months
to the polls, a sense of urgency is more
than ever imperative, particularly on the
part of the government and the election-
management and security agencies.”
“As Africa’s most populous country and
largest economy, Nigeria would pose a
very real security threat if it were
destabilised by election violence,” says EJ
Hogendoorn, Africa Program Deputy
Director. “Salvaging the situation requires
concerted efforts by all national actors
and international partners”.


Source: www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/171719-violence-may-mar-nigerias-2015-general-elections-report.html