The European Union has raised concerns over growing reports of political violence, hate speech and intimidation in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that threats to civic freedoms could weaken democratic participation.

The EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, expressed the concerns on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders Forum on the State of Human Rights, organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Mignot said incidents of violence and intimidation undermine democratic progress by discouraging citizens from participating freely in the electoral process.

Recent cases have heightened concerns, including an attack on supporters of the All Progressives Congress travelling to a campaign event in Funtua, Katsina State, in October, and an attack on the convoy of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi in Calabar on November 4.

Another attack on a political procession organised by NDC supporters in Asaba, Delta State, on November 7, left one person dead and five others injured.

The National Peace Committee has also reported 60 election-related incidents within one month, including violence, threats and intimidation.

Mignot said protecting civic and political spaces was essential to ensuring that Nigerians could express opinions, assemble peacefully and scrutinise political candidates without fear of retaliation.

He identified free media, public forums and civil society organisations as important safeguards for transparency and accountability during elections.

The ambassador also pledged the European Union’s continued support for Nigerian institutions, including the NHRC and civil society organisations, to strengthen democratic governance.

“Our objective is not to interfere in the elections but to support legitimate Nigerian stakeholders to fully play their roles in order to contribute to a free, fair, credible electoral process,” he said.

He added that political parties, government institutions, the media and civil society all had important responsibilities in protecting democratic freedoms.

In his remarks, NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, warned that restrictions on civic participation and the lack of accountability for electoral offences could undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.

He said journalists and human rights defenders continued to face harassment, arbitrary arrests and the alleged misuse of laws, including provisions of the Cybercrimes Act.

Ojukwu also raised concerns about voter intimidation, hate speech, political exclusion through high nomination fees and uncertainty surrounding regulations for digital platforms.

He said the commission was particularly concerned about the failure to hold perpetrators of electoral offences accountable.

“These are warning lights, not yet verdicts. The window to correct course is now, and that is precisely why this Forum meets today,” he said.

The NHRC executive secretary stressed that democracy required the protection of citizens’ rights throughout the electoral cycle, not only on election day.

Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Dantalle, called on political parties and their supporters to reject violence and focus on issue-based campaigns.

In a goodwill message delivered on his behalf by Chinedu Obi, Dantalle said political competition should not threaten national peace or cost lives.

“As we approach 2027, political competition must not become warfare. Political opponents are not enemies, and electoral victory must never be pursued at the expense of human lives, public peace and national unity,” he said.

The forum was held under the theme, “Protecting Human Rights in Civic and Political Spaces in the 2027 Elections.” (Arise News)