European Union (EU) has expressed concern over persistent security challenges which are interfering into the deployment of personnel following the upcoming governorship polls election in Anambra state.
The Head of the Governance, Gender, Human Rights and Migration Service, EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS Abuja Nigeria, Reuben Alba Aguilera noted this during the inauguration of the Election Security Information (ESI) hub, an initiative by the National Peace Committee (NPC) of The Kukah Centre on Wednesday in Abuja.
Blueprint reports that the hub is an initiative established under the auspices of the National Peace Committee with technical assistance of the European Union which aims to support the democratic governance programme in Nigeria.
According to him, the hub is about the right of people to vote without any threat, without any intimidation, without any fear.
He said it is a right that should not be taken away from anyone in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world.
“I really encourage the members of the National Peace Committee, working with INEC, working with the security agencies, working with all of the political actors, including also civil society, to make sure that electoral offenses do not go unpunished,” he said.
Also, the chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdusalami Abu Bakr, represented by the member of NPC, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.) said while Nigerian democracy continues to deepen, its election cycle reveals persistent security challenges, gaps and coordination, intelligence sharing, and weak response systems that allow local tensions to escalate into broader conflict.
He said the hub is a deliberate response to these challenges. “It is a strategic platform designed to gather, analyze, and share information on security and its impact on elections.
“While tracking electoral offenses, Its process is simple, yet very profound, intended to transform early warning into coordinated, timely and local responses by critical stakeholders.
“The hub reflects a critical evolution in Nigeria’s democratic architecture, turning commitment into coordination and pledge into practical action,” he said.
Also, the Executive Director and head of secretariat of the NPC, Fr. Atta Barkindo, said in Nigeria, insecurity remains one of the greatest threats to electoral integrity, public trust, and peaceful participation.
He lamented that each election cycle exposes familiar vulnerabilities, weak coordination, delayed responses, and limited access to credible information.
He said the Election Security Information hub seeks to complement ongoing initiatives by providing a platform that enhances information sharing, fosters collaboration, and promotes a more coordinated data-driven approach to election security management.
He said the hub will serve as a repository for gathering, analyzing, and sharing verified data on insecurity and its impact on elections, including the tracking of electoral offenses nationwide.
“The work intends to translate every warning into early, coordinated, and lawful responses, ensuring that emerging threats are addressed proactively tather than actively by relevant stakeholders.
“These outputs are central to enhancing election security and promoting peaceful democratic process. This includes, number one, quarterly threat analysis, providing in-depth assessments of evolving risks to election peace and integrity,” he said.
