The 2023 elections are likely to go down as one of the most significant moments in Nigeria’s recent history. With instability and insecurity already at unprecedented levels, what are the implications for the country’s religious and ethnic communities?
Millions went to the polls in February and March – many voting for the first time, encouraged that their votes would count due to the introduction of electronic transmission of results. This made it all the more frustrating that the vote was marred by serious irregularities, with credible reports of rigging, fraud, voter intimidation, ballot snatching and violence.
‘They have snuffed hope out of us and dealt a permanent psychological injury on the psyche of mostly the young people, who started having faith again in Nigeria...’ said Rev Yunusa Nmadu, CEO of CSW Nigeria. ‘Democracy was murdered in cold blood.'
A surge in violence and violations
Many were hoping the elections would be an opportunity for change; an opportunity to elect leaders who would work to contain the decades- long crisis of violence and protect religious and ethnic communities who are intensely targeted.
Instead, violence surged across the country following the electoral season.
It was particularly appalling in Benue State. Among a series of violent incidents over Easter, was an armed attack on Good Friday, on a primary school where displaced people were sheltering. Over 200 were displaced once again, and around 88 people were killed, including children and pregnant women.
‘Killings have been going on every day,’ lamented the outgoing governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on 10 April, after attacks by Fulani militia men had claimed 134 lives over a five- day period.
Villagers in Kaduna State are also under siege, as kidnappings for ransom resumed after the elections. Many no longer till their larger farms for fear of attack, and are struggling to find alternative sources of income.
A missed opportunity for harmony
The elections presented an opportunity to heal two of the nation’s most significant divides: religion and ethnicity. Sadly, the opportunity was missed by the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Departing from tradition, the party opted for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, initially claiming, that no suitable northern Christian candidate existed. Party spokespersons subsequently stated that the tactic presented the best chance of winning. In one bizarre episode, fake church leaders were filmed ‘endorsing’ the single faith ticket, and were later caught on camera changing their costumes and receiving payments in a parking lot.
Meanwhile in the south, and particularly in Lagos, ethnicity-laced rhetoric was used against members of the Igbo tribe, who were considered by the APC to be opponents. As a result, Igbos were threatened, assaulted and driven away from voting areas, several Igbo owned businesses were set ablaze, and some Igbo homes were attacked and looted.
These tactics not only exacerbated the sensitive fault lines of religion and ethnicity; by all indications they also failed to produce a legitimate victory.
At the time of writing, Nigeria’s political future remains unsettled, following the inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president on 29 May while results were still being disputed in court.
Our ongoing response
It would be easy to lose heart when considering the seeming return to power of the party which oversaw Nigeria’s unprecedented decline in security. Yet we continue to pray for peace, and to advocate for all who are targeted because of their religion or belief, while also highlighting their plight internationally.
Our ongoing response now includes psychosocial training for human rights defenders and survivors of attacks and abductions, which you can read about in the Response article ‘Priceless knowledge’ (January 2023). Following initial workshops in Kaduna State, CSW Nigeria has now conducted them in Bauchi, Benue, Niger, Plateau and Taraba states. So far, 90 human rights defenders and 200 survivors have been assisted.
We know this training is transformational, because the participants themselves have said so. We are deeply grateful to the funders who made this life-changing work possible, and to you for consistently partnering with us in prayer for Nigeria.
'The training was enlightening... Everyone deserves to know.’
(A human rights defender)
‘We have just been living with these violations – I didn’t realise there were such avenues for help.’
(A human rights defender)
‘I have been living in pain... I got peace of mind yesterday.’
(A victim of trauma)
‘This programme transformed my life. When I get home I am going to talk to my wife and family, and will take it to the youth fellowship.’
(A victim of trauma)
‘It is truly eye-opening and healing.’
(Rev Yunusa Nmadu)
‘This is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. The response immediately after each training is really encouraging, and we constantly receive calls of appreciation, especially from survivors. Some say their lives have really changed.’
(Davita Andow, Project Manager, CSW Nigeria)
Pray using p.6 of the Prayer Diary. Visit csw.org.uk/Nigeria for latest developments.