PIND launches initiative to prevent election violence in 24 high-risk LGAs ahead of 2027 polls
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has launched an initiative to prevent election-related violence in 24 high-risk local government areas (LGAs) across Akwa Ibom, Delta and Rivers states ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
At the launch in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, PIND signed memoranda of agreement with three organisations: Youth for Change Initiative in Akwa Ibom, One Love Community Development and Promotion of Peace Initiative in Delta, and Community Resource Development Foundation in Rivers.
The agreements establish a consortium framework for coordinated implementation across the three states.
The initiative combines conflict early warning and early response (EWER), stakeholder coordination, media engagement and community-based peacebuilding to identify risks, improve information sharing and support timely intervention before, during and after the elections.
David Udofia, PIND’s peacebuilding programme manager, who represented Sam Daibo, the organisation’s executive director, said efforts to prevent election violence must begin well before election day.
“Election violence is rarely an isolated event; warning signs often emerge long before voting begins. This initiative will help communities and institutions identify those signals early, share reliable information and coordinate action before tensions escalate into violence,” Udofia said.
He added that the project was non-partisan and aimed to protect lives, promote peaceful civic participation and support credible electoral processes through local ownership, responsible communication and evidence-led responses.
The initiative will strengthen PIND’s Integrated Peace and Development Unit (IPDU) conflict early-warning platform by expanding community reporting networks, improving incident verification and analysis, and providing actionable information to peacebuilding organisations, electoral institutions, security agencies and other stakeholders.
It will also support election-violence scenario planning, mediation, dialogue, stakeholder forums, targeted advocacy and peace messaging.
As part of the intervention, PIND plans to engage 15 radio and television stations, alongside digital platforms, to promote conflict-sensitive reporting, counter misinformation and disinformation, and discourage inflammatory narratives.
The 24 targeted LGAs are Uyo, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, Esit Eket, Nsit Ubium, Abak, Ini and Etim Ekpo in Akwa Ibom; Warri North, Warri South, Warri South-West, Ethiope East, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli North and Ughelli South in Delta; and Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Khana, Eleme, Asari-Toru, Ahoada East and Andoni in Rivers.
According to PIND, the locations were selected using its Peace Map and other credible sources, taking into account historical patterns of electoral violence and emerging political and conflict dynamics.
The initiative will involve community leaders, women and youth groups, civil society organisations, media practitioners, electoral institutions and security agencies to strengthen local mechanisms for preventing and responding to violence.
PIND said it had previously supported efforts to prevent election-related violence during Nigeria’s 2015, 2019 and 2023 electoral cycles through voter sensitisation, early warning and coordinated stakeholder responses. The new initiative builds on those experiences and extends its focus across the pre-election, election and post-election periods.
Following the launch, consortium partners will begin technical planning and coordinate prevention activities across the three states ahead of, during and after the 2027 general elections.
