President Tinubu Orders Full Force Against Political Violence

President Bola Tinubu authorized security agencies to use full force to confront thuggery and anti-democratic activities as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections. In a formal statement, Tinubu condemned all forms of violence and asserted that differing political ambitions do not make political actors enemies.

These directives follow a report from the African Centre for Security, Governance and Development, which documented 70 election-related attacks across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory between January and October 2026. These incidents resulted in 27 deaths.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana echoed the call for peace during a keynote address in Abuja, warning that the naturalization of violence threatens constitutional democracy. Falana argued that political thuggery is a symptom of a deeper governance crisis and urged the government to target the sponsors of violence rather than only the foot soldiers.