Abuja: The European Union (EU) and the National Peace Committee (NPC) are deepening their collaboration to curb electoral violence and promote credible, peaceful, and inclusive elections in Nigeria. Mr. Ruben Aguilera, Head of the Governance, Gender, Human Rights, and Migration Service for the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, announced this on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Aguilera made this statement during the official inauguration of the Election Security Information (ESI) Hub. He emphasized that the hub is part of the EU’s longstanding partnership and support for the NPC since its establishment in 2015. This collaboration aims to enable the NPC to fulfill its mandate effectively.
Aguilera noted, “We are moving beyond moral and convening power. We are now talking about moving into evidence-based platforms that would allow us to track incidents and those behind those incidents in terms of electoral offenses.” He highlighted the persistent security challenges that hinder credible and inclusive elections, citing ongoing incidents in areas like Anambra, where upcoming elections are scheduled.
Aguilera shared insights from his visits to security agencies and the electoral body in Anambra, where several local government areas face insecurity challenges that could affect election delivery. These areas are reportedly controlled by bandits and other armed groups, interfering with the deployment of teams ensuring smooth elections.
According to the Chairman of NPC, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, the hub is an initiative of The Kukah Centre, the Secretariat of the NPC, supported by the EU under its Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN). Abubakar, represented by retired Gen. Martin Agwai, emphasized that the strength of democracy lies in the credibility of elections and citizens’ confidence in the process.
Abubakar stated, “While Nigerian democracy continues to deepen, its election cycle reveals persistent security challenges, gaps and coordination, and weak response systems that allow local tensions to escalate into broader conflict.” He explained that the hub is a strategic platform designed to gather, analyze, and share security information impacting elections, transforming early warnings into timely, coordinated local responses by critical stakeholders.
Fr. Atta Barkindo, the Executive Director and Head of Secretariat of the NPC, acknowledged that despite progress, elections still reflect vulnerabilities threatening public trust. He described the hub as a proactive mechanism to manage election-related security issues, emphasizing NPC’s commitment to moving from peace pledges to prevention and accountability.
Barkindo remarked, “The evidence collected will assist the Peace Committee in all its interventions and mediations.” He noted that since its creation in 2014, the Peace Committee has relied on expert analysts and security consultants for analysis. However, the hub now provides a platform to collect, verify, and analyze data, ensuring NPC interventions are evidence-based.
A representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. Helen Ajayi, Director of Planning and Monitoring Department, praised the NPC and EU for their initiative, noting that it would support the commission’s work.