Stakeholders in Kaduna State have called for stronger coordination among security agencies and identified vulnerable areas ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They made the call on Friday at a citizens’ engagement on election security organised by CLEEN Foundation, with support from Open Society Foundations.
The engagement focused on election security, early warning, violence prevention, voter participation and protection of electoral integrity.
The Programme Director of CLEEN Foundation, Dr Salaudeen Hasheem, identified the weakness of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Kaduna (ICCES) as a major concern.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to convene relevant stakeholders and establish coordinated mechanisms for monitoring and managing election security incidents.
Hasheem said threat mapping during the engagement identified parts of Giwa, Kaduna North, Kubau, Tudun Wada, Rigasa, Zaria, Kachia and Kagarko as vulnerable to possible electoral violence.
He urged security agencies to use the threat map to guide deployment and response strategies.
The Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Mr Peter Maduoma, represented by Mrs Chigozirim Okoro, said election security should not be treated as a one-day exercise, as violence, hate speech, disinformation and voter disenfranchisement could undermine public safety and trust in institutions.
Dr Terngu Gwar of the National Human Rights Commission said insecurity could discourage citizens from voting and contribute to voter apathy.
Mikailu Abubakar, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), Kaduna State, urged political parties to comply with the Electoral Act and Constitution and called on security agencies to remain non-partisan.
Salisu Aliyu, INEC Chief Security Officer in Kaduna, said the commission would convene ICCES stakeholders, including security and anti-corruption agencies, to strengthen coordination ahead of the elections.
ACP Abdulkadir Yahaya of the Kaduna State Police Command said the police would review the recommendations from the engagement and improve strategies to address identified challenges, including election logistics and changing security threats.
The engagement produced a citizens’ charter of demands and a peace accord aimed at promoting peaceful and credible elections in 2027.
