Violence and Irregularities Undermine Nigeria’s 2023 “Peaceful” Presidential Election

Despite official claims that Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election was largely peaceful, an extensive 10-month investigation by the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ) reveals widespread violence, intimidation, and irregularities that undermined voter confidence and participation across the country.

Key Findings

• Widespread violence: Independent monitors recorded over 100 election-related deaths, while thousands were injured or displaced. Attacks targeted voters, journalists, and election officials in multiple states, including Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Imo.

• Suppressed voter turnout: The election recorded the lowest turnout in Nigeria’s modern democratic history—just 27% of registered voters participated.

• Uncounted ballots: CCIJ’s review of official election commission data (INEC) found that over 2,000 polling stations reported cancelled results—mostly due to violence and insecurity—leaving 1.1 million registered voters disenfranchised.

• Official denial: INEC’s post-election report described the process as “peaceful and orderly,” downplaying incidents of intimidation and bloodshed. It praised security forces and election staff while promising only procedural improvements.

• High-profile cases: Legislator Alhassan Doguwa, a senior member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was accused of involvement in election-related murders in Kano State, though later cleared of charges.

• Voter intimidation: Witnesses recounted attacks by armed gangs and political thugs who threatened those not voting for ruling-party candidates. In Lagos, for example, voters of Igbo ethnicity were told to leave polling sites.

• Security failures: In many locations, police and military officers did not intervene to stop assaults or threats, creating a climate of fear that discouraged participation.

• Regional disparities: States such as Imo, Edo, Sokoto, Lagos, and Delta reported the highest numbers of polling units where votes were voided due to violence or missing materials.

Human Toll

Eyewitness accounts reveal brutal personal experiences — from voters injured by gunfire in Lagos to election officials beaten in Kano and families mourning relatives killed in Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa. Many Nigerians said the violence left them disillusioned and unwilling to participate in future elections.

International Reaction

Organizations including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the U.S. Embassy condemned the “violent voter intimidation” observed in several states. The EU Election Observation Mission cited “critical delays” and “lack of transparency” in result tabulation.

Experts such as Ezenwa Nwagwu of Partners for Electoral Reform warned that beyond violence, citizens’ disillusionment with corruption and inequality is eroding trust in democracy.

Conclusion

The investigation exposes a stark gap between the Nigerian government’s portrayal of a peaceful election and the realities of violence and fear on the ground. With over a million votes lost, hundreds of polling sites disrupted, and dozens killed, the 2023 election raises deep concerns about the future of Nigeria’s democratic integrity.