Findings conducted by United States Institute of Peace on electoral violence risk assessment in Nigeria have suggested possible escalation of electoral violence before the 2019 general elections.
The outcome of the U.S. agency’s research findings equally identified Rivers, Kano, Kaduna and Ekiti states, among others, with high risk of political violence in Nigeria.
The research scope, which covered between March and April 2018, was conducted in eight states, including Kano, Kaduna, Ekiti, Adamawa, Plateau, Anambra, Lagos and Rivers states.
A fellow of USIP, Mr. Aly Verjee, who presented the abridge report of the research findings in Kano, posited that prominent among issues gathered, which include change in the narrative of insecurity in the country, farmers/herdsmen dispute, communal and ethnic crisis presently frustrating the fragile peace, are capable of preventing smooth conduct of elections in 2019.
He said the credibility doubt against the Independent National Electoral Commission to deliver high expectations when compare to the relative improved performance in 2015 general elections might spark needless violence by the electorate.