New Project Launched to Stop Violence in Niger Delta Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has started a new project to stop violence during elections. This initiative will focus on 24 local government areas in Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Rivers states before Nigeria's 2027 general elections.

The project will use early-warning systems, community peacebuilding, media involvement, and coordinated responses. These tools will help spot possible threats and stop conflicts from getting worse.

PIND announced this project during a ceremony in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. They signed agreements with three civil society groups to help carry out the plan across the states.

The partner groups include Youth for Change Initiative in Akwa Ibom, One Love Community Development and Promotion of Peace Initiative in Delta, and Community Resource Development Foundation in Rivers.

David Udofia, PIND’s Peacebuilding Programme Manager, spoke on behalf of PIND’s Executive Director, Sam Daibo. He said that preventing election violence must start well before election day.

"Election violence is rarely an isolated event; warning signs often emerge long before voting begins. This initiative will help communities and institutions identify those signals early, share reliable information and coordinate action before tensions escalate into violence," Mr Udofia said.

He added that the project is not political. Its goal is to protect lives, encourage peaceful participation, and support fair elections. This will be done through local involvement, responsible communication, and informed responses.

PIND explained that the project will improve its Integrated Peace and Development Unit (IPDU). This will be done by expanding community reporting networks, enhancing incident verification and analysis, and providing useful information to peacebuilding groups, electoral bodies, security agencies, and other stakeholders.

The initiative will also include planning for election-related violence, mediation, dialogue, forums, advocacy, and peace messaging.

PIND mentioned plans to work with 15 radio and television stations, as well as online platforms. The aim is to promote careful reporting, counter false information, and reduce narratives that could raise political tensions.

The project will involve community leaders, women and youth groups, civil society groups, media workers, electoral bodies, and security agencies.

In Akwa Ibom, the project will focus on Uyo, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, Esit Eket, Nsit Ubium, Abak, Ini, and Etim Ekpo.

In Delta, it will target Warri North, Warri South, Warri South-West, Ethiope East, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli North, and Ughelli South.

In Rivers, the areas covered will include Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Khana, Eleme, Asari-Toru, Ahoada East, and Andoni.

PIND said these states and local government areas were chosen based on evidence from its Peace Map and other reliable sources. This includes historical data on election violence and new political and conflict trends.