The election will be a massive operation. An estimated 95 million registered voters will go to the polls in 176,846 polling units across 774 local government areas.
We think there are indeed grounds for concern. Based on our expertise and previous work on violence in Nigeria, we believe that potent threats to a free, fair and credible election could come from both physical and virtual spaces. Election security is a defining factor of Nigeria’s electoral process. Past elections have been characterised by brazen acts of violence largely perpetrated by political thugs. But the speed, spread and scale with which violence has evolved make the 2023 elections particularly concerning.
Cybersecurity has also deteriorated. Data released in May 2022 showed that Nigeria was one of the worst hit countries in Africa in terms of cyber-attacks. South Africa was the most targeted with 32 million attacks. Nigeria had 16.7 million cyber-attacks. Since 2017, there have been nine abductions involving electoral commission staff, 20 attacks on election facilities, and 17 incidents of looting and property destruction. Offices and sensitive equipment have been targeted.Since the 2019 election unidentified armed groups have attacked commission offices.For instance, on 26 November 2020, Boko Haram members attacked the electoral commission office at Hawul local government in Borno State.
Security forces must plan for operations involving, for example, ground and air raids against armed groups in their strongholds. There also need for information and psychological operations to tackle the propaganda and disinformation put out by armed groups.
And Nigerians are more Awake to Government’s Monetary control 🤣 Told them to “Stick” their CBDC efforts!