Post-Election Assessment of Conflict Prevention and Resolution Mechanisms in Nigeria
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Post-election assessment of conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms in Nigeria Final report Babatunde Afolabi and Sabina Avasiloae November 2015 Table of Contents List of Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Background .............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Methodological and conceptual issues ................................................................................................................. 6 INITIATIVES AT FEDERAL LEVEL ................................................................................................................. 8 Background .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Tensions before and during the elections ........................................................................................................... 8 Efforts to reduce tensions and potential for violence ..................................................................................... 10 The impact of conflict prevention initiatives .................................................................................................... 14 KADUNA STATE.................................................................................................................................................... 17 Overview: political history and prevailing conflict issues ............................................................................... 17 Tensions before the elections .............................................................................................................................. 17 Efforts to mitigate tensions and reduce the potential for violence ............................................................... 19 Local perceptions of the Abuja Accord ............................................................................................................. 21 The impact of local ADR and conflict prevention initiatives ........................................................................ 21 Reducing violence: the way forward................................................................................................................... 22 PLATEAU STATE ................................................................................................................................................... 24 Overview: political history and prevailing conflict issues ............................................................................... 24 Tensions before the elections .............................................................................................................................. 24 Efforts to reduce tension and the potential for violence ................................................................................ 25 Local perceptions of the Abuja Accord ............................................................................................................. 28 The impact of local ADR and conflict prevention initiatives ........................................................................ 28 Reducing violence: the way forward................................................................................................................... 29 BORNO STATE ....................................................................................................................................................... 31 Overview: political history and prevailing conflict issues ............................................................................... 31 Tensions before the 2015 elections .................................................................................................................... 31 Efforts to mitigate tensions and the potential for violence ............................................................................ 32 Local perceptions of the Abuja Accord ............................................................................................................. 32 The impact of local ADR and conflict prevention initiatives ........................................................................ 32 Reducing violence: the way forward................................................................................................................... 33 LAGOS STATE ........................................................................................................................................................ 34 Overview: political history and prevailing conflict issues ............................................................................... 34 Tensions before the 2015 elections .................................................................................................................... 34 Efforts to reduce tensions and the potential for violence .............................................................................. 36 Local perceptions of the Abuja accord .............................................................................................................. 38 The impact of local ADR and conflict prevention initiatives ........................................................................ 38 Reducing violence: the way forward................................................................................................................... 39 RIVERS STATE ........................................................................................................................................................ 41 1 Overview: political history and prevailing conflict issues ............................................................................... 41 Tensions before the elections .............................................................................................................................. 41 Efforts to reduce tensions and the potential for violence .............................................................................. 43 Local perceptions of the Abuja Accord ............................................................................................................. 48 The impact of local ADR and conflict prevention initiatives ........................................................................ 48 Reducing violence: the way forward................................................................................................................... 49 AKWA IBOM STATE ............................................................................................................................................. 51 Overview: political history and prevailing conflict issues ............................................................................... 51 Tensions before the elections .............................................................................................................................. 51 Efforts to reduce tensions and the potential for violence .............................................................................. 52 Local perceptions of the Abuja Accord ............................................................................................................. 53 The impact of local ADR and conflict prevention initiatives ........................................................................ 53 Reducing violence: the way forward................................................................................................................... 54 ABIA STATE ............................................................................................................................................................. 56 Overview: political history and prevailing conflict issues ............................................................................... 56 Tensions before the elections .............................................................................................................................. 56 Efforts to reduce tensions and the potential for violence .............................................................................. 58 Local perceptions of the Abuja Accord ............................................................................................................. 60 The impact of local ADR and conflict prevention initiatives ........................................................................ 61 Reducing violence: the way forward................................................................................................................... 61 CONCLUDING REMARKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................... 63 Copyright notice: No part of this assessment may be quoted or reproduced in any form or by any means, without written permission from the authors. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, the Department for International Development (DFID) or the Australian High Commission in Nigeria. Where the text refers to statements made by interviewees, every effort has been made to provide a fair representation of their views and opinions, but the ultimate responsibility for the interpretation