NIGERIA: The Professor Pat Utomi-led Big Tent Coalition has alerted the international community to what it described as an escalating pattern of political intimidation, violent rhetoric, obstruction of opposition activities and threats to democratic participation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The coalition submitted an “International Alert on the Threat to Nigeria’s Democratic Space Ahead of 2027” to the United Nations, European Union, United States Government and United Kingdom Government, urging early, impartial and sustained international monitoring of Nigeria’s pre-election environment.
The development was reported by ThisDay.
Director of Media and Communications of the Big Tent Coalition, Charles Odibo, quoted Utomi as saying the coalition was seeking international intervention to ensure that Nigerians could freely choose their government without intimidation or coercion.
“We are asking the international community to monitor, document and help deter conduct that could undermine the ability of Nigerians to freely choose their government.”
Utomi said the international community had a legitimate interest in ensuring that Nigerians could exercise their democratic rights without intimidation, violence or coercion.
“We will not wait any longer because Nigerians are being intimidated, beaten, shot or killed, and the world needs to pay attention,” he said.
The coalition said the purpose of the alert was primarily preventive, arguing that international actors should document developments and engage Nigerian authorities early enough to prevent political intimidation from escalating into electoral violence.
It warned that waiting until election day to assess the state of Nigeria’s democracy could be too late.
“By the time violence erupts on election day, it may already be too late. The democratic space is either protected months before an election, or it is gradually strangled before voters ever reach the polling unit,” Utomi said.
Tinubu’s ‘all is fair in politics’ remark
The Big Tent Coalition said its concerns were heightened by remarks attributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his July 28, 2026 meeting with the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.
According to the coalition, the President was reported to have said “all is fair in politics”, adding that he would not give his opponents a “red carpet” and that political parties would “wrestle each other to the finishing point.”
While acknowledging that political competition would inevitably be vigorous and that political leaders were entitled to campaign strongly for their parties, the coalition argued that political competition must not become a licence for threats, intimidation, violence or the suppression of opponents.
It said the words of political leaders carried particular weight in Nigeria because political tensions could quickly translate into violence.
Big Tent lists ‘warning signs’
The coalition said its international alert contained a number of incidents which, taken together, warranted closer international monitoring.
Osun: alleged threat against opposition supporters
It cited remarks reportedly made in August by Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, which were interpreted as threatening violence against supporters of an opposition party ahead of the Osun governorship election.
The viral footage reportedly prompted the Osun State Police Command to invite the senator for questioning.
The coalition said political statements that could reasonably be interpreted as threats of lethal violence should be investigated and clarified rather than normalised.
FCT: ‘Support APC or leave’
The coalition also cited remarks attributed to Samuel Shekwolo, Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, in which residents were reportedly told: “It’s either you are doing APC or leave the area council.”
According to the coalition, political affiliation could not legitimately become a condition for belonging to a Nigerian community, stressing that citizens had the constitutional right to support any political party or none at all.
Ebonyi: ‘Deal with opposition parties mercilessly’
The coalition further referenced reports concerning remarks attributed to Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru while addressing newly inaugurated local government chairmen.
The governor was reportedly quoted as directing them to “deal with opposition parties mercilessly.”
Big Tent said such language from public officials created an atmosphere that required scrutiny, stressing that opposition parties were legitimate participants in a constitutional democracy and should not be treated as enemies of the state.
Borno: alleged threats against non-APC supporters
The coalition also drew attention to reported remarks by Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, who was allegedly quoted as threatening physical punishment against people who refused to support the APC.
The coalition said no government official should threaten citizens with physical punishment because of their political choices.
Benue: Obi convoy blockade raises questions
The coalition described the September 8 incident involving NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi in Benue State as particularly significant.
According to the coalition, Obi’s convoy was blocked by a crowd while travelling from Makurdi towards Yelewata, where he intended to visit victims and families affected by the 2025 massacre.
Reports and video footage showed a crowd blocking the route and preventing the convoy from proceeding, while the Benue State Government denied involvement.
However, Big Tent said the NDC had formally notified the Benue State Police Command of Obi’s planned visit on September 7, a day before the incident.
It said the police acknowledged receipt of the notification and that the Commissioner of Police subsequently confirmed that the command had been informed and security personnel deployed for the visit.
The coalition therefore questioned how a presidential candidate whose visit had been communicated to the police command and for whom security personnel were reportedly deployed could still be physically prevented by a crowd from reaching a Nigerian community.
It called for the incident to be investigated rather than reduced to political speculation.
‘Protect democracy before election day’
The Big Tent Coalition said international institutions had legitimate roles to play in monitoring human-rights conditions, observing elections, documenting violations, engaging governments, supporting democratic institutions and helping prevent electoral violence.
Utomi said the protection of Nigeria’s democratic space should begin well before election day.
“We believe that an election is free when citizens can reach polling booths without fear, and so, Nigeria’s 2027 elections must therefore be protected before election day, not merely observed on election day.
“The world has been alerted. The evidence has been documented. The institutions have been notified. Now the responsibility is collective – protect Nigeria’s democratic space and let Nigerians decide their future peacefully at the ballot box.”
