There are indicators pointing to the likelihood of electoral violence in Nigeria’s 2019 general elections. For Instance, about 28 states recorded serious intra-party crises in the recently conducted APC ward congress. Also, the incident in River states where thugs invaded the court to disrupt instituted case against the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a pointer case, and it is a trend that needs to be monitored as we go into the 2019 general elections.

The need to mitigate electoral violence in Nigeria pre-election, election and post-election is the fulcrum of the European Union-Supported Project (EU-SDGN) on Mitigating Electoral Violence for the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria. The initiative aims to proactively implement interconnected activities that will mitigate security threats and electoral violence in Nigeria pre, during and post 2019 general elections, and further enhance election security management in Nigeria.

As we move closer to the election year, emerging scenarios such as the activities of Boko Haram, Fulani-Herders conflict, ethno-religious conflicts, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) agitations are threats that may likely pose a serious security to the 2019 general elections.

Thus, the project consortium was been convened by CLEEN is a brainstorming session on the project’s core activities, discuss implementation plan and develop robust strategic action-plan for the – Harmonization of the Election Violence Mitigation Tool (EVMT) developed by CLEEN & the Electoral Institute (TEI), with the Election Risk Management (ERM) Tools of INEC; as well as other activities lined up under the projects. Some of them are: Resource of the Election Violence Mitigation Database, Mapping of Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria and their Special needs in the Electoral Process, Conduct of Nation-Wide Pre-Election Security Assessment, Campaign against Electoral Violence in Nigeria before, During and After the Elections, Specialized Training for Divisional Police Officers on Right Based Approach (RBA) on Election Security Management in Nigeria, Observation, Collation and Analysis of Information on the Conduct of Security Agencies in Elections.

CLEEN Foundation, in collaboration with INEC, Nigeria Police Force, The Electoral Institute and Centre for Citizens with Disability, YIAGA Africa, Westminster Foundation for Democracy, The Albino Foundation will be implementing the project.

CLEEN Foundation extends an invitation to her key implementing partners – INEC, Nigeria Police Force, The Electoral Institute and Centre for Citizens with Disability; as well as other key stakeholders and institutions under the EU-SDGN project.

The meeting was held on 24th May, 2018, at the CLEEN Foundation Abuja Office – 26 Bamenda Street Wuse Zone 3, Abuja; Time – 10:00am.

Signed
Dr. Benson Olugbuo
Executive Director