Weekend Trust Page 3 Comment, Saturday September 13, 2025
Although the 2027 general elections are still more than a year away, the atmosphere is already tense, marked by a disturbing rise in violence and thuggery. This wave of unrest, widely reported across the country, is fuelling anxiety among citizens, political leaders with good conscience, civil society groups and security stakeholders about what lies ahead for Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
Between August and early September, multiple cases of political violence were recorded in Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Kebbi, Jigawa and Lagos states. This surge raises a fundamental question: Who is in charge of Nigeria’s political space?
The atmosphere has been further charged by the premature commencement of political campaigns despite repeated warnings from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against breaching the electoral timetable. This early mobilisation has intensified competition and created flashpoints for clashes. Political thugs are being recruited ahead of schedule, while rival camps increasingly battle for control of public spaces, particularly in states where opposition parties, now largely regrouped under the coalitionled African Democratic Congress (ADC), are challenging ruling party dominance.
While the ADC blames the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the violence, the ruling party has denied any culpability. Yet, the silence from the authorities, particularly the presidency and police high command, suggests a worrying indifference that conspiracy theorists interpret as tacit approval. With only victims speaking out and no neutral body condemning or restraining perpetrators, the culture of silence that fuels political violence continues to thrive.
Civil society organisations and political scientists have long observed that thuggery persists because political elites benefit from it. Security agencies, which ought to act decisively through actionable intelligence, are widely suspected of compromise. So far, they have done little to clear that perception.
We submit that the time is now for them to dust off their tools and focus on their real duty: protecting the lives and freedom of all Nigerians, not just the political elite. The police in particular must not only claim neutrality but demonstrate it in their conduct, statements and actions. The tendency of those in power to use them for parochial ends must be checked.
All stakeholders must recognise that democracy cannot flourish in an environment of fear and violence. Left unchecked, the current trend could spiral into a worse crisis, leaving Nigeria’s democracy on shaky footing. Evidence points to the fact that political elites and their supporters have failed to learn from history. The evidence of how past violence created openings for military incursions is still fresh.
Nigeria’s more recent democratic journey is littered with cases of political unrest spiralling
The government must ensure that the rule of law applies without fear or favour; and every act of impunity must be punished. A conscious effort must also be made to restructure the security architecture to make it proactive and free from political interference.
out of control. In the 2011 elections, for instance, post-election violence following Goodluck Jonathan’s victory left more than 800 people dead across 12 northern states, according to Human Rights Watch. Thousands were displaced, while homes, places of worship and government buildings were destroyed.
More recently, in November 2019, Mrs Salome Abuh, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) woman leader in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, was brutally murdered. Days after the governorship election, thugs attacked her home and set it ablaze while she was inside. Her death drew national outrage and became a tragic reminder that women too are not spared in Nigeria’s cycle of political violence.
Such tragedies must be avoided at all costs. The government must ensure that the rule of law applies without fear or favour; and every act of impunity must be punished. A conscious effort must also be made to restructure the security architecture to make it proactive and free from political interference.
Politicians must be mindful of their rhetoric and ambitions, which, if left unchecked, can only lead to destruction. The proliferation of small arms, worsened by conflicts in neighbouring countries, makes the situation even more dangerous. Allegations that politicians are recruiting non-state actors with tacit backing from state officials are serious and must be thoroughly investigated.
The Inspector-General of Police must, in particular, resist the temptation to dismiss violent clashes as mere “political matters” between rival thugs. Nigerians know that the police have the intelligence to identify those responsible. What is needed is a decisive action. The Force must protect lives and property, not offer excuses.
Political violence remains a direct threat to Nigeria’s democratic survival. The authorities must act now to halt this dangerous trend, not wait until the damage is done.
Nigerians cannot afford violence from political thugs in addition to the activities of unknown gunmen, bandits and terrorists. The time to put a stop to that is now!