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.As Atiku urges citizens to end poor governance, electoral fraud
Phil Okose, Onitsha
Barely five days to the 8 November gubernatorial election in Anambra state, palpable fear of uncertainty, especially electoral violence has reportedly gripped residents of the state some of who have embarked on last minute purchases.
To worsen the situation, the heavy presence of security operatives seen in most flashpoints, government facilities and major roads made the residents to believe that there may be severe political erruption as obtained in previous years where scores were killed and properties estimated into millions of naira lost.
Also disruption of political campaign rallies by rival political thugs has added to the fear of violent election come 8 November, even as scores of families have stated to travel to their home towns for safety.
Reacting to the perceived violence, the Anambra state chairman of Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, comrade Vincent Ezekwueme recalled that, “Nearly all of Nigeria’s general elections since gaining independence have been marked by violence.
“The first election in 1964/5 led to more than 200 deaths, particularly in the Southwest. Subsequent elections, like the 1983 election and the annulled 1993 presidential election, also saw significant violence and loss of life, including the deaths of over 100 demonstrators during protests against the annulment.
“Since returning to democracy in 1999, violence has persisted. In the aftermath of the 1999 election, around 80 people died due to fraud allegations, while violence in the 2003 elections resulted in at least 100 deaths.
“As the governorship election in Anambra state draws near in 8 November 2025, worries about potential security threats are increasing. Data from January to the present indicates that approximately 63 individuals have been kidnapped, heightening fears of further abductions as the election approaches, whether these are politically motivated or similar to the election-related kidnappings that occurred in 2003, where Mr. Ikenna Maduabuchi and others were victims.
“In 2007, over 300 people were killed, and during the 2011 elections, post-election riots caused at least 800 deaths across northern Nigeria. This violence often erupted in response to election results, particularly among supporters of opposing candidates.
“Further elections in 2015 and 2019 also experienced violence, with reports of over 100 and around 150 deaths, respectively. Analysts attribute ongoing electoral violence to several factors, including weak governance, ineffective security forces, poverty, political alienation, and a prevailing culture of impunity and aggressive political competition..
“The Nigeria Security Tracker (NST) has provided detailed insights into electoral violence trends from 2014 to 2022. The NST recorded at least 350 deaths associated with electoral violence and numerous abductions of electoral officials during this period. Violence took on various forms, including arson, kidnapping, and shooting, with many victims being civilians.
“The NST dataset allows for analysis beyond general elections, capturing violence during governorship elections and other electoral events. Between 2014 and May 2022, Rivers, Lagos, Kogi, Ondo, and Ekiti emerged as states with the highest incidents of electoral violence. Conversely, the highest casualties were centered in Rivers and Lagos, while the most abductions occurred in Katsina and Imo.
“Recent incidents of violence have increasingly targeted Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) facilities, with 41 attacks reported between 2019 and May 2021. These incidents were linked to various groups, including thugs and insurgents, primarily concentrated in the Southeast and Southwest.
“In light of this persistent violence, CLO urges the President to utilize his leadership as an opportunity to tackle Nigeria’s serious human rights issues, including political violence, by reforming security forces and ensuring accountability for abuses.
