The United Nations said on Wednesday that the presidential election held on February 25 exposed sharp ethnic, religious and demographic fault lines in Nigeria, despite candidates and their political parties signing a peace accord. The UN added that Nigeria now stands at a crossroads, and that genuine dialogue involving all stakeholders will be pivotal for accountability and restoring confidence in governance.
Ms. Adwoa Kufuor, Senior Human Rights Advisor in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, made these remarks during the launch of a national stability dialogue in Abuja. The event, themed “Promoting post‑election stability, justice and gender inclusion,” was organized by the peace‑building organization International Alert in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency and the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience.
At the event, Paul Nyulaku, Country Director of International Alert, urged President‑elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to engage in dialogue and negotiate with aggrieved political parties and individuals to defuse tension in the country. Kufuor emphasized that many peace accords, based on the constitution and the Electoral Act, were signed at both state and federal levels, with political parties committing to a peaceful climate. However, the presidential election revealed deep ethnic, religious and demographic divisions, underscoring that signing documents is insufficient; genuine political will is needed to turn commitments into concrete actions.
Nyulaku added that the incoming government must prioritize national reconciliation and seek broad support for democratic institutions and non‑violent conflict resolution. The chairman of the occasion, former Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Martin Luther‑Agwai (retd.), stressed that effective dialogue requires all parties to speak in a non‑partisan manner.
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