NDLINK ELECTION ISSUE

Connect. Collaborate. Coordinate.

JOIN THE NIGER DELTA PEACE AND SECURITY WORKING GROUP

The recently concluded Stakeholders’ Forum on 2015 Elections brought together 102 public and private sector stakeholders – including security agents and traditional and youth leaders – to share findings from its multi-sector consultations on what can be done in order to mitigate the potential for violence in the Niger Delta this election period.

This Forum was organized by the Niger Delta Peace and Security Working Group in conjunction with the PIND-supported Partners for Peace (P4P) Network. The PSWG was established in order to enhance the effectiveness and coordination of interventions that are designed to reduce conflict in Nigeria. The PSWG meets in Abuja and Port Harcourt, and brings CSOs, NGOs, government, and private sector stakeholders together to share information and identify opportunities for enhanced collaboration. The Niger Delta Sub-Group was established with the same vision of preventing violent conflict with a specific focus on the 2015 elections and the end of the Amnesty Program.

The communiqué created from the Forum includes observations from the wide array of stakeholders, as well as key findings and recommendations to help foster peace in the run-up to the elections and in the sensitive period immediately following. We invite partners in the Niger Delta to join the NDPSWG and the P4P Network to partner on advocacy and peace building for the safety and security of all Nigerians.

Niger Delta Election Violence Update: January - March 2015

Following the party primaries in late 2014, political jockeying has continued between and among parties. The postponement of the elections originally slated for February 14, due to insecurity in the Northeast, appears to have raised the level of uncertainty. In some states, gangs and cult groups have taken sides. In others, political rallies have escalated to violence. Even issues not directly election-related such as communal tensions and criminality have been affected. Logistical challenges around the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have further complicated matters. Unlike previous cycles, this election looks to be real contest between the ruling party (PDP) and the opposition (APC), which has raised the stakes considerably, particularly in states like Rivers and Edo.

Click the image above to read and download the full report. The report was created by the Fund for Peace (FFP).