2027: Coalition Raises Alarm Over Attacks On Opposition Supporters

The Coalition for Democracy has raised alarm over alleged attacks on opposition supporters, intimidation of political actors and discriminatory restrictions on opposition campaigns ahead of the January 16, 2027 elections.
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‎It warned that the actions could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
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‎The coalition, formerly known as the G100 Coalition, also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately shrinking Nigeria’s democratic space by creating an uneven political environment that favours the ruling party at the expense of opposition parties.
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‎The opposition coalition made the allegations in a statement signed by Salihu Moh. Lukman on Thursday, following a meeting of its Central Leadership Committee (CLC) in Abuja on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
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‎It said opposition supporters had been attacked in Kaduna, Ibadan, Sokoto and Cross River in the last 90 days, while hotels booked for opposition delegates reportedly cancelled their reservations and campaign offices were sealed.
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‎The coalition also alleged that opposition billboards had been pulled down in Edo State while those belonging to the ruling party remained untouched.
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‎It also claimed that opposition parties seeking outdoor advertising spaces in the Federal Capital Territory had been subjected to charges as high as N750 million.
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‎The coalition alleged that a local government chairman had told residents to vote for the APC or leave their community.
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‎”The APC is not just trying to win the election. It is trying to decide the conditions under which everybody else must contest it,” the statement said.
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‎It warned that the alleged actions raised serious questions about whether Nigerians would be allowed to freely choose their leaders in the forthcoming elections.
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‎The coalition also expressed concern over the integrity of the voters’ register, alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to meet the statutory deadline prescribed by Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
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‎It said the discovery of AI-generated photographs in the register, reportedly inserted by INEC registration officers, alongside the removal of more than 1.27 million records, had heightened concerns about the commission’s preparedness and credibility.
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‎The opposition parties questioned why no official had been publicly identified or prosecuted over the alleged irregularities and why political parties had not received copies of the register for independent scrutiny.
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‎”The credibility of an election begins long before the first ballot is cast. If INEC cannot account for the names on its register, how can Nigerians trust it to account for the votes in its custody?” the coalition asked.
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‎It demanded that INEC immediately provide all registered political parties with electronic copies of the preliminary voters’ register and subsequently the certified register.
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‎It also called for an independent forensic audit of the register to be concluded before December 15, with the findings published state by state and all officials found culpable brought to justice.
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‎On security, the coalition urged the Inspector-General of Police to guarantee equal protection for all lawful political activities in accordance with Section 83 of the Police Act 2020.
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‎It also demanded that the police make public the outcome of investigations into attacks on opposition supporters in Oyo, Kaduna and Sokoto states.
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‎The coalition also called on state governments to end what it described as discriminatory restrictions on campaign venues, political offices and advertising spaces, insisting that all political parties must operate under the same publicly established rules.
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‎”We are not asking for privileges. We are demanding the protection of rights that already belong to us under the Constitution,” it said.
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‎The group stated that the alleged restrictions and attacks went beyond the interests of opposition parties, arguing that they threatened Nigerians’ constitutional right to participate in the electoral process and choose their leaders.
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‎It called on civil society organisations, the media, international partners and Nigerians to remain vigilant and demand accountability from institutions responsible for protecting the electoral process.
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‎The coalition said the authorities still had sufficient time to address the concerns before the January 16 elections, warning that continued inaction could raise questions about their commitment to credible polls.
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‎”An election without genuine competition is not democracy. It is an endorsement ceremony,” the statement added.(daily trust)