US Watching Nigeria’s January Election Closely — Officials

The United States has said it is closely monitoring preparations for Nigeria’s January 2027 presidential election, describing the exercise as a high-priority electoral process amid concerns about insecurity and possible political violence.

The position was disclosed by senior US officials during a congressional hearing organised by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa on Thursday, November 12.

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, identified the forthcoming election as one of the challenges that could complicate efforts to address insecurity in Nigeria.

In his prepared testimony, Garcia warned that the election could heighten tensions and trigger violence in parts of the country.

“I am realistic about the challenges ahead. For example, Nigeria will hold presidential elections in January, which could spur violence,” he said.

Garcia also identified Nigeria’s overstretched security architecture, limited judicial reach in parts of the Middle Belt and inadequate resources as major obstacles to addressing the country’s security challenges.

During the hearing, US Congressman Riley Moore called for particular attention to the conduct of the election, urging Washington to closely scrutinise developments before, during and after the polls.

“We need to be watching these presidential elections like a hawk. And I’m gonna be watching them, and we all need to be watching them,” Moore said.

Responding, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Riley Barnes, confirmed that the State Department was already tracking the electoral process through a dedicated team responsible for monitoring elections around the world.

Barnes described Nigeria’s election as a high-priority exercise and assured lawmakers that the department would follow developments closely.

He said the US would continue to pay attention to the electoral process as part of its broader engagement with Nigeria.

The officials’ comments came amid heightened diplomatic attention to Nigeria following concerns over attacks on vulnerable communities and the country’s response to religious violence.

Garcia said Washington was engaging the Nigerian government through a Joint Working Group established after Nigeria was designated a Country of Particular Concern in October 2025.

The discussions include improving security deployments, responding to early warnings of attacks, strengthening accountability and expanding cooperation between both countries.

The January 2027 presidential election is expected to be a major political contest, with President Bola Tinubu seeking another term amid opposition efforts to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress.