The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised the alarm over what it described as a dangerous convergence of ethnic security formations, political intimidation and traditional authority ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The rights group warned that Nigeria could be heading towards an electoral crisis if private and ethnic security structures are allowed to operate without clearly defined legal boundaries, while political actors or traditional institutions attempt to restrict opposition campaigns.
HURIWA’s warning followed the reported declaration by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, that presidential candidates other than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not campaign in Osun State.
The organisation described the position as constitutionally untenable and a dangerous precedent capable of creating political “no-go areas” for opposition candidates.
According to HURIWA, no traditional ruler, political office holder or private individual has the constitutional power to determine which presidential candidate Nigerians may listen to, receive or vote for.
The group said allowing such declarations to go unchallenged could embolden political intimidation and deny opposition parties equal access to voters ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
HURIWA consequently challenged the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make it clear that all presidential candidates recognised under Nigerian law are entitled to campaign peacefully and lawfully throughout Osun State and other parts of the country.
“Nigeria cannot have a democracy where some candidates are allowed to campaign freely while others are effectively declared persona non grata in certain territories,” HURIWA said.
The organisation said the issue becomes more disturbing when political endorsements appear to converge with privately organised security structures.
HURIWA also questioned the reported donation of ₦100 million and a new Hilux vehicle by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to the Iru Ekun Security Network, a community security initiative reportedly established by Yoruba Nation advocate Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
The organisation stressed that it was not opposed to legitimate community-based efforts to protect lives and property but demanded transparency over the legal status, command structure, funding, operational mandate and accountability mechanisms of such security formations.
HURIWA warned that Nigeria could not afford a situation in which ethnic groups establish or finance parallel security structures capable of operating beyond constitutional and statutory controls.
“Security is a constitutional responsibility. Community participation in security is legitimate, but no community security initiative should become a parallel army operating beyond democratic and statutory controls,” it said.
HURIWA further questioned what it described as possible inconsistency in the treatment of ethnic-affiliated security structures across the country.
The organisation recalled previous government security operations against structures associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and asked whether the same standards were being applied to other ethnic-linked security formations.
“Why should one ethnic security formation attract tolerance while another attracts the full weight of the state? Equality before the law cannot depend on political convenience,” the group asked.
HURIWA called for a comprehensive review of ethnic and community-based security formations across the country, including their funding sources, weapons, personnel, command structures and operational mandates.
It warned that such groups could become particularly dangerous during the 2027 election if deployed to intimidate voters, suppress opposition campaigns or influence polling environments.
HURIWA also called for an investigation into allegations by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) and the Ekwenche Research Institute that about 6,000 families in the South-East are allegedly searching for relatives who reportedly disappeared in the custody of security agencies since 2021.
The rights group stressed that the allegations were grave and required independent investigation rather than political dismissal.
It called on the South-East Houses of Assembly, National Assembly and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate the claims and establish the whereabouts of persons reported missing.
HURIWA also urged credible international human-rights organisations and relevant United Nations mechanisms to examine substantiated allegations of enforced disappearance, unlawful detention and other serious rights violations.
The organisation said anyone found responsible for criminal violations must face prosecution irrespective of political affiliation, ethnicity or institutional position.
HURIWA maintained that Nigeria’s security crisis cannot be resolved through the emergence of competing ethnic armies.
The group said the country requires one constitutional security architecture governed by law, professional command structures, democratic oversight and accountability.
It warned that the combination of ethnic militias, political thuggery, private armies and political intimidation could create a volatile environment ahead of the 2027 elections.
HURIWA therefore urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to publicly reassure Nigerians that no ethnic militia would be allowed to operate as a parallel army and that no traditional ruler would be permitted to restrict lawful political campaigns.
The organisation also demanded guarantees that all presidential candidates would receive equal protection, security agencies would remain politically neutral and allegations of unlawful detention and enforced disappearance would be investigated.
HURIWA said Nigeria’s democracy could not survive on selective enforcement, political favouritism and ethnic security arrangements.
It urged the Federal Government to act before the 2027 election season intensifies, warning that waiting until armed or semi-armed groups appear around polling locations would be too late.
“The erosion of democracy rarely begins with the formal cancellation of elections. It begins when citizens gradually lose the right to speak, organise, campaign, assemble and choose freely.
Nigeria must not wait until private armies are standing at polling units before recognising the danger. The time to act is now.”