The CLEEN Foundation has urged Nigerians to reject election-related violence and work collectively to ensure peaceful, transparent and credible elections before, during and after the 2027 elections.

Its executive director, Peter Maduoma, made the call on Wednesday in Makurdi at a two-day Citizens’ Engagement on Election Security.

Mr Maduoma said the engagement was organised to identify community-level threats and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections. He said elections should not be treated as a war or a do-or-die affair but as a civil exercise where citizens exercise their franchise.

“I appeal to citizens of Nigeria: please know that it is your right to vote; get your voter card and vote for the person you believe in. Your heart will deliver good governance,” he said.

He said the engagement focused on community security around the 2027 elections, particularly identifying existing and perceived threats and developing strategies to address them. According to him, the first day brought together traditional rulers, Muslim community representatives, civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, people living with disabilities, the Christian Association of Nigeria, the media and other citizens.

He said the stakeholders will identify and map election-related risks within their communities.

Mr Maduoma said the second day would allow relevant government and election-security institutions to engage directly with citizens on identified threats and measures to prevent violence. He said the foundation would also present a “Charter of Demand” to relevant institutions, reflecting citizens’ concerns about the security ecosystem before, during and after the 2027 elections.

He said the foundation conducted election-security and threat assessments and shared findings with relevant stakeholders to support effective resource deployment by institutions such as the police and the INEC.

He said the assessments were important for identifying flashpoints and strengthening security preparedness across communities.

Mr Maduoma said the foundation’s intervention in Benue and the wider Middle Belt was informed by prevailing security challenges in the region, including insurgency, kidnapping and banditry.

(NAN)