A coalition of civil society groups in Nigeria has condemned the harassment of the chairman of the country’s electoral commission outside Chatham House in London.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Coalition of Civil Society in Nigeria said the vehicle carrying Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was surrounded and prevented from moving by demonstrators on Thursday 12 November 2026.
The incident happened after Prof Amupitan took part in a discussion on Nigeria’s democratic future and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
READ Don’t Judge Amupitan Before 2027 Polls, ODA Condemns Harassment At Chatham House
The statement was signed by Tijani Abdulmumuni, national coordinator of Concern Nigeria Youths, on behalf of the coalition.
*What happened in London*
Video footage circulating online showed protesters surrounding a black vehicle, blocking its movement and demanding that Prof Amupitan come out to address them.
The coalition said while it recognises the right of citizens to protest and demand accountability, any action that crossed into intimidation, harassment, physical obstruction or endangerment of life should be condemned.
“No public official should be subjected to intimidation or personal harassment as a substitute for constructive engagement, lawful investigation or institutional accountability,” the statement said.
It added that a distinction must be made between legitimate democratic criticism and deliberate actions capable of undermining the dignity and security of public institutions.
Questions over timing
The group questioned why the INEC chairman was confronted in the United Kingdom ahead of an election that has not yet taken place.
Nigeria is due to hold general elections in 2027. Political parties are already positioning themselves, candidates are preparing and consultations are under way, the coalition noted.
“The 2027 general elections are next year, political parties are campaigning and preparing, so what exactly is the point of harassing the INEC chairman in the United Kingdom?” the statement asked.
It said if there were genuine concerns about electoral preparations, they should be addressed through constructive engagement, transparent dialogue, lawful scrutiny and institutional accountability.
The coalition said recent off-cycle elections conducted by INEC had received commendations for their credibility, and that this should provide grounds for constructive engagement rather than hostility over an election yet to be conducted.
It stressed that it was not suggesting INEC should be beyond criticism, but that accountability must be evidence-based, constructive and pursued through lawful channels.
“You cannot claim to be defending democracy while engaging in actions that threaten its institutions,” it said.
Call for investigation
The coalition raised concerns about the organisation and coordination of the incident and the adequacy of security arrangements at the venue.
It called for transparency on the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the conduct of security personnel present and the measures taken to protect the chairman.
It said any suggestion of a coordinated attempt to intimidate or endanger Prof Amupitan must be taken seriously and independently investigated, while cautioning that speculation should not replace evidence.
Appeal to international bodies
The group appealed to the United Nations, the African Union, the Commonwealth and other international organisations to take note of the incident.
It called on the UN, particularly its human rights and democratic governance mechanisms, to encourage respect for democratic institutions and the rule of law.
It urged the African Union to reaffirm its commitment to constitutional governance, institutional independence and peaceful democratic engagement, and the Commonwealth to promote democratic accountability, political tolerance and protection of public institutions.
It also called on the British government and relevant UK authorities to ensure the circumstances were properly examined and that the safety of visiting public officials was not compromised.
Chatham House was asked to provide clarification on the security arrangements and circumstances surrounding the incident.
Demands
The coalition listed seven demands, including an independent and transparent examination of the obstruction of the INEC chairman’s vehicle, clarification of the roles of security personnel present, and measures to prevent a recurrence against Nigerian public officials.
It also demanded respect for the independence, dignity and constitutional responsibilities of Nigeria’s electoral institution, an end to political intimidation and threats, and greater commitment by political actors to peaceful dialogue and the rule of law.
It called for a renewed commitment by all stakeholders to allow INEC to discharge its constitutional responsibilities without intimidation, undue pressure or interference.
Democracy must not be held hostage
In its conclusion, the coalition said democracy must accommodate criticism, opposition, protest and accountability, but must never legitimise intimidation, harassment or endangerment of human life.
It said it did not seek to silence Nigerians with genuine grievances against INEC, but insisted such grievances must be pursued through lawful, peaceful and constructive democratic channels.
“The forthcoming 2027 general elections should be an opportunity to strengthen our democratic institutions, deepen public confidence and demonstrate our collective commitment to credible elections,” the statement said.
“There is therefore no justification for turning the INEC chairman into an object of public intimidation in a foreign country over an electoral exercise that is yet to take place.”
The group said the international community must not wait until democratic institutions are physically threatened before expressing concern.
“We stand firmly for democracy, justice, accountability, institutional independence and the rule of law,” it added.
