The National Peace Committee (NPC), through The Kukah Centre, has launched an Election Security Information (ESI) Hub to strengthen election safety and integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, Executive Director and Head of the NPC Secretariat, said the initiative aims to enhance the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process by addressing security challenges that threaten elections.
reports that the ESI Hub was established under the auspices of the National Peace Committee, with technical support from the European Union, as part of efforts to promote democratic governance in the country.
Barkindo noted that the stability of any democracy depends on the credibility of its elections and the public’s trust in the process. He, however, lamented that insecurity remains one of the biggest threats to Nigeria’s electoral integrity and citizen participation.
“Each election cycle exposes recurring vulnerabilities such as weak coordination, delayed responses, and limited access to credible information,” he said.
He added that the 2023 general elections and subsequent off-cycle polls revealed the magnitude of these challenges, despite the efforts of security agencies and electoral bodies.
According to Barkindo, the new hub seeks to close these gaps by collating and deploying reliable data to assess and mitigate election-related threats. He said the ESI Hub will complement existing initiatives by providing a centralised platform for information sharing, collaboration, and a data-driven approach to election security management.
The platform will serve as a repository for verified data on security threats, electoral offenses, and their impact on elections. It will also track emerging risks and generate early warnings to enable timely and coordinated responses from relevant stakeholders.
“Our goal is to ensure that every warning translates into lawful and proactive action that protects the integrity of elections,” Barkindo explained.
He said the hub’s outputs would include quarterly threat analyses, monthly security reports, and state-specific assessments, beginning with off-cycle election states, to support targeted preventive measures.
The system will also feature interactive dashboards for policy formulation, situational reports, and forecasts to guide public discourse and strategic engagement.
Barkindo recalled that since its establishment in 2014, the National Peace Committee has consistently promoted peaceful elections through the signing of peace accords and the advocacy of political tolerance.
He said the ESI Hub represents a new phase in the committee’s work — transitioning from “commitment to capacity, from goodwill to credible information, and from prejudice to prevention.”
He expressed optimism that the hub would reinforce the NPC’s mission to advance peace, justice, and credible governance across Nigeria.