Concerns are mounting over the resurgence of political thuggery ahead of the 2027 general election, amid reports that political actors are recruiting and mobilising armed groups in parts of the country.

Security experts warned that, if left unchecked, the trend could undermine peaceful political participation, threaten public safety and erode the credibility of the electoral process, prompting calls on security agencies, political parties and other stakeholders to take decisive action to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.

Attempts to get the reaction of top officials of the Nigeria Police Force was futile as they declined to respond to THISDAY’s enquiries.

The concerns over rising cases of political thuggery were heightened by a rise in reported violent attacks involving political opponents, alongside allegations that some convicted street gang members were being released from prison under the guise of executive clemency to serve as political thugs.

In Osun State, allegations and counter-allegations of intimidation, harassment and politically motivated arrests underscore the tense political atmosphere already building ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s protocol aide, Simon Mudi (Temple) and the Commissioner for Works (Urban/Highways), Reuben Izeze, during the Delta Central APC Stakeholders’ meeting at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, were recently attacked.

Equally, there are allegations that some political candidates and incumbents were securing the release of incarcerated militia members under the guise of executive clemency or political amnesty to serve as political enforcers. In Kano, there are allegations that those released belong to various Yan Daba factions— street gangs associated with localised crime and drug abuse.

Commenting on the development, security expert and former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, said politicians were becoming increasingly desperate and warned that the 2027 general election could be marred by violence unless urgent action was taken.

He noted that the assault on the Delta State Governor’s aide, without any visible intervention by security agencies, underscored the seriousness of the situation.

On measures to prevent a recurrence, Ejiofor said: “The politicians are the ones stockpiling arms, and the security agencies must ensure that these weapons are recovered. There should also be close monitoring of desperate political actors, particularly by the intelligence agencies.

“If INEC conducts a credible election, many of them will not emerge victorious, which is why they are attempting to manipulate the process. They are doing everything possible to ensure they win, but I can assure you that they will also face the full weight of the security agencies.”

Similarly, former FCT Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Alobi (Rtd), called on the Nigeria Police Force to prioritise the recovery of illegal arms ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that the proliferation of firearms poses a grave threat to both the electoral process and national security. He urged the Police to establish a dedicated task force to identify, recover and remove illegal weapons from unauthorised persons, while strengthening intelligence gathering, closely monitoring political actors and enforcing electoral laws.

According to him, “The proliferation of illegal arms remains a major concern. The Police should establish a dedicated task force to identify, recover and remove illegal arms from unauthorised persons. If this is done before the election, it will go a long way towards curbing violence, particularly the use of firearms against innocent citizens.”

Also speaking, security expert Umar Bologi said that guaranteeing peaceful, free and transparent elections in 2027 would require security and intelligence agencies to adopt a proactive rather than reactive approach. (AriseNews TV)

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