The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr Joseph Ochogwu, has called for sustained efforts to promote peace, justice, dialogue and inclusion ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Ochogwu made the call in Abuja during the IPCR’s 2026 International Day of Peace Commemoration Lecture, held under the theme, “Invest in Peace for Everyone Everywhere Every Day.”
He said peaceful elections could not be achieved through measures taken only on election day, stressing that democratic stability requires continuous attention to justice, fairness, inclusion, dialogue and respect for the rule of law.
According to him, peace should not be treated as a temporary intervention introduced only when conflict emerges, but as an ongoing process involving citizens, communities and institutions.
Ochogwu identified farmer-herder relations, grievances involving young people and women, misinformation, hate speech and access to justice at the community level as issues requiring sustained attention before the elections.
He said the IPCR had intensified its election-related conflict prevention efforts through its Early Warning and Early Response mechanisms.
The institute, he added, has also been engaging political actors, traditional institutions, women and youth networks across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to reduce the risk of electoral violence.
Ochogwu disclosed that the IPCR had developed policy briefs focused on electoral violence mitigation to support stakeholders working towards peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
The IPCR had earlier announced plans to activate its national conflict telephony system to monitor and report incidents of electoral and political violence during the 2027 election period. The system is expected to help escalate emerging incidents to relevant stakeholders for timely intervention.
He also stressed the importance of responsible conduct by political actors, electoral institutions and other stakeholders in creating an environment conducive to peaceful elections.
The IPCR Director-General said the 2026 International Day of Peace theme was particularly relevant to Nigeria as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
He maintained that building peace requires action before, during and after elections, rather than concentrating efforts solely on the polling period.
The institute’s approach is aimed at strengthening conflict prevention mechanisms and encouraging greater participation by communities, youths, women and other stakeholders in peacebuilding efforts ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
