2027: Zamfara stakeholders demand stronger security measures

Stakeholders in Zamfara State have urged for enhanced security measures prior to the 2027 elections, citing banditry, kidnapping, political violence, and insufficient security deployment as significant risks to a peaceful electoral process. This call came from a two-day citizens’ meeting on election security, organized by the CLEEN Foundation with the support of the Open Society Foundation.

The gathering included representatives from security forces, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, traditional and religious groups, civil society organizations, women and youth entities, and the media. Participants pinpointed Tsafe, Zurmi, Maru, Anka, Bukkuyum, Shinkafi, Birnin Magaji, Gusau, Kaura Namoda, and Talata Mafara as regions requiring particular attention in election security planning due to the presence of existing security challenges.

Other identified threats encompass election-related violence, political thuggery, voter intimidation, bribery and corruption, ballot theft, misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. The stakeholders also highlighted weak early-warning and early-response systems, inadequate information-sharing, limited resources in hard-to-reach areas, drug abuse among the youth, low civic awareness, poverty, and unemployment as elements that could jeopardize election security.

They advocated for the timely deployment of adequate security personnel to high-risk and hard-to-access areas, along with coordinated efforts to prevent armed groups from exerting control over communities and curb the proliferation of small arms. The participants also demanded stringent action against electoral malpractice, including vote buying, vote selling, and ballot snatching, while urging measures to shield women, youth, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons from intimidation and voter suppression.

They also called for bolstered community-based early-warning and early-response mechanisms, accessible channels for reporting threats, and steps to combat misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. These demands were outlined in an Election Security Risk Assessment and Citizens’ Charter of Demands, which the stakeholders believe must be implemented and monitored by relevant authorities ahead of the 2027 elections.