The European Union Support yo Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) has decried the misuse of vigilante groups and continuing attacks on candidates ahead of the November 8 Anambra State governorship election.
The Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of the Anambra Governorship pre-election report.
Highlighting the key findings of the report, Arogundade noted the security dynamics in Anambra State revealed a critically volatile pre-election convergence of traditional communal conflicts, pervasive political thuggery, and a by significant erosion of institutional trust across all three Senatorial Zones.
He emphasised that the state has emerged as the clear epicentre of this insecurity, plagued by cult killings, kidnappings, and clashes fuelled by intense political and communal toxicity, particularly in hotspots like Ihiala and Orumba South.
Arogundade stressed that the zone is dominated by the problematic involvement of local vigilante groups and is susceptible to both ethnic and denominational tensions.
He said across the state, electoral integrity is fundamentally undermined by rampant electoral offences that override adherence offense, often to the Peace Accord.
Arogundade noted that vote trading is a significant reported offense, often facilitated by informal local networks and supported by cult or vigilante groups that distribute cash and inducements to distort the electorate’s choice.
He stated: “The cumulative effect of these dynamics is a serious vulnerability to targeted violence against political actors, exemplified by incidents such as the shooting of a PDP candidate.
“Such attacks demonstrate the operational freedom of informal political actors and local militias outside institutional safeguards, making candidate protection a critical election security concern.
“Overall, the security landscape in Anambra is defined by the politicisation of local conflicts and security outfits, the use of money to sway both traditional leaders and youth, and the failure of enforcement mechanisms to bridge the widening gap.”
To this end, he called for the exclusion of non-statutory security outfits like the vigilante groups from election security roles.
Arogundade expressed concern over the “misuse of vigilante groups and continuing attacks on candidates. Fear and restricted movement further suppressing turnout.
“Establish clear protocols to prevent infiltration or misuse of non-conventional security groups, such as vigilante or state-sponsored outfits.”
Arogundade pointed out that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has demonstrated expanded electoral participation and institutional responsiveness, notably through the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise which successfully captured 168,000 new voters, with women and youth constituting the majority.
He stressed that the commission has concluded key preparatory phases, including the display of the new voter register.
Despite these efforts, effective participation is persistently challenged by significant operational and infrastructural deficits.
He added: “Logistical arrangements are plagued by recurring issues such as the late opening of polling units a major historical problem with 73 per cent of units still closed past 9:30 a.m. in the 2021 election, underscoring the necessity for robust planning and contingency measures across the state’s 5,720 polling units.
“These technical weaknesses are compounded by gaps in transparency and voter confidence. While INEC has adopted technology like INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for result transmission and launched inclusive education campaigns, voter trust remains moderate due to poor information dissemination, logistical delays in Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution (affecting 14 per cent of PwDs registrants), and concerning procedural inconsistencies and perceived opacity concerning procedural inconsistency.
“Ultimately, while the State Resident Electoral Commissioner has declared readiness, the success of the November election hinges on INEC’s ability to translate its technical commitments into seamless, on-the-ground execution.”
The report, therefore, called on security agencies to regulate and monitor activities of community vigilante groups on election day, preventing them from obstructing accredited reporters.
It also called on IPC, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and civil society partners should set up dedicated hotlines for journalists to report threats, harassment, or attacks in real time.