By Isaac Aregbesola
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has inaugurated a multistakeholder initiative to prevent and mitigate election-related violence ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections in Niger Delta.
The project targets 24 high-risk local government areas across Akwa Ibom, Delta and Rivers with real-time risk monitoring, coordinated response and responsible media engagement.
Anne Ihugba, PIND Foundation’s Manager, Knowledge Management and Communications, said this on Friday in Abuja.
Ihugba said that the project was a collaborative effort between PIND and some of its partners.
”At a project launch and signing ceremony in Port Harcourt, PIND signed Memoranda of Agreement with Youth for Change Initiative in Akwa Ibom, and One Love Community Development and Promotion of Peace Initiative in Delta.
“Also part of the agreement is Community Resource Development Foundation in Rivers State.
”The agreements establish a consortium framework for coordinated implementation across the three states,” she said.
She said that the intervention combined conflict Early Warning and Early Response (EWER), multistakeholder coordination, strategic media engagement and community-based peacebuilding.
”It is aimed at detecting risks early, improving information sharing and supporting timely action before, during and after the elections.”
Ihugba quoted PIND’s Peacebuilding Programme Manager, Dr David Udofia, who spoke on behalf of PIND’s Executive Director, Mr Sam Daibo, as saying that prevention 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.
“The project is strictly non-partisan. Its purpose is to protect lives, strengthen peaceful civic participation and support credible electoral processes through local ownership, responsible communication and evidence-led response,” he said.
According to him, the initiative will strengthen PIND’s Integrated Peace and Development Unit (IPDU) conflict early-warning platform by expanding community-based reporting networks.
”It will also help in improving incident verification and analysis, and generating actionable information for peace actors, electoral institutions, security agencies and other stakeholders.
”It will also promote election-violence scenario planning, mediation and dialogue, stakeholder forums, targeted advocacy and peace messaging.
”The project plans to engage 15 radio and television stations alongside digital platforms to promote conflict-sensitive reporting, counter misinformation and disinformation, and discourage inflammatory narratives,” Daibo said.
He said that the targeted locations were Uyo, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, Esit Eket, Nsit Ubium, Abak, Ini and Etim Ekpo in Akwa Ibom; Warri North, Warri South, Warri South-West, and Ethiope East.
”Others are, 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.”
“The states and LGAs were selected using evidence from PIND’s Peace Map and other credible sources, including historical patterns of electoral violence and emerging political and conflict dynamics.
”The intervention will work with community leaders, women and youth groups, civil society, the media, electoral institutions and security actors to strengthen local prevention and response mechanisms,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PIND previously supported election-related violence prevention during Nigeria’s 2015, 2019 and 2023 electoral cycles through voter sensitisation, early warning and coordinated multistakeholder responses.
The new initiative builds on those lessons while extending attention across the pre-election, election and post-election periods.
Following the inauguration, consortium partners will commence technical planning and coordinated prevention activities across the three states before, during and after the 2027 general elections.(NAN)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
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