MONTHLY TRACKING OF HATE SPEECH & ELECTION ATROCITIES IN NIGERIA
…..a Monthly tracking of hate speech & election atrocities in Nigeria.
Preamble
The month of January was marred by an increased election-related atrocities, including politically-motivated abductions and killings of candidates and politically exposed individuals, particularly in the Southeast region. Facilities belonging to INEC and Police were also attacked and vandalized by gunmen.
The growing trend of violent crimes ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria is eroding the civic space and represents the largest threat to the peaceful conduct of the elections. Some of the political actors are blaming these incidents on their political opponents while security agencies are attributing the carnage against INEC and some politicians in the southeast to separatist groups such as IPOB.
Nonetheless, these attacks have the tendency to significantly impact the election process and could disrupt election activities both during and after the 2023 general elections.
War of Words
As the 2023 elections approach, political tensions are rising and leading to verbal confrontations and violence. The spokespersons of the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were engaged in a heated exchange, and their followers and supporters took the verbal war to social media.
There were accusations and counter-accusations between the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Magnus Abe and the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike.
As the 2023 elections approach, political tensions are rising and leading to verbal confrontations and violence. The spokespersons of the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were engaged in a heated exchange, and their followers and supporters took the verbal war to social media.
There were accusations and counter-accusations between the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Magnus Abe and the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike.
Furthermore, supporters of two political leaders, Hon Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo of APGA and Senator Uche
Ekwunife of PDP, were involved in a physical altercation on January 7, 2023, which highlights how the heated
language of the political elites is inciting violence between their supporters.
Ekwunife of PDP, were involved in a physical altercation on January 7, 2023, which highlights how the heated
language of the political elites is inciting violence between their supporters.
