US expresses fears that Nigeria's elections may be marred by violence in certain states

WASHINGTON has expressed fear that the Nigeria’s 2019 general elections are likely to be characterised by violence which could have significant consequences for the democratic trajectory of the sub-region and the entire African continent.

In February, Nigeria goes to the polls with presidential, National Assembly, 30 state governors and state houses of assembly elections taking place. According to the US, public disturbances that the elections would cause might not be a large-scale nationwide conflict but localised violence.

Tibor Nagy, the US assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of African Affairs, expressed his fears in his presentation during the US Congress hearing on Nigeria’s on Thursday. Nigerian officials present there included senate president Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Hon Nnena Ukeje.

In a debate titled Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Elections, Mr Nagy, who is President Donald Trump’s lead foreign policy adviser for Africa, said the Department of State agreed with the view that Nigeria’s 2019 general elections would serve as critical test. He added that the US government took the risk of any loss of human life during the elections seriously.

Mr Nagy said: “I can tell you from my impressions during my travels and my previous service in Nigeria that I fear there will be some violence around these elections, as has been the case with previous elections. I do not anticipate large-scale nation-wide conflict but rather localised violence.

“We are already seeing increased tensions and polarisation as the election approaches. We assess that politicians are turning to narratives of identity politics in an attempt to improve their popularity, with potentially serious consequences for national unity. however, Nigeria’s political system and society have weathered such tensions before.”

To this end, he said when he was in Nigeria, he asked officials from both major political parties to sign pledges that their candidates would conduct peaceful campaigns. Mr Nagy noted that the major candidates had now signed a peace pact, although he added that Rivers, Borno, Benue, Plateau, Kano are listed as hotspots

He listed the areas of concerns to include potential attacks on the legitimacy of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the electoral process for political gain, the intimidation and partisanship by security forces, heightened insecurity, terrorist attacks on electoral institutions, or violence towards voters, observers, or electoral officials. Others include the inability of large numbers of internally displaced persons or persons with disabilities to vote, voter suppression, the use of armed gangs for voter intimidation as well as wide-spread vote buying that challenges the integrity of the electoral process.

Mr Nagy added that the US government will be watching closely for instigators of violence or those attempting to undermine the democratic process. He added that the US was helping Nigeria to strengthen its democratic institutions and processes through diplomacy and robust public engagement.