US Vows Close Monitoring of Nigeria’s January Election, Warns of Possible Violence

The United States has vowed to closely monitor Nigeria’s forthcoming January presidential election, warning that the exercise could trigger violence amid the country’s growing security challenges.

The Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, raised the concern in his prepared testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa during a congressional hearing on violence in Nigeria on Thursday.

Garcia listed the election among the major challenges confronting efforts to address insecurity in the country, cautioning that political tensions surrounding the exercise could escalate into violence.

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

He also identified Nigeria’s overstretched security architecture, limited judicial reach in the Middle Belt and inadequate resources as major obstacles to tackling the crisis.

The warning comes amid growing international concerns over persistent attacks on Christian communities and the Nigerian government’s response following Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern by US President Donald Trump on October 31, 2025.

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During the hearing, US Congressman Riley Moore urged Washington to pay close attention to developments surrounding the election, stressing the need for rigorous scrutiny of the electoral process.

“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, the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Riley Barnes, said the State Department had already activated a dedicated team to monitor elections across the world.

He described Nigeria’s election as a high-priority exercise, assuring lawmakers that Washington would closely follow developments before, during and after the poll.

“I’m glad you raised that. We’re also tracking them closely. We have a team that, in my bureau, focuses on elections in many spots around the world, especially high-priority ones like this one. So we’re gonna be watching it very closely as well,” Barnes said.

The congressional hearing also examined the persistent violence in Nigeria, particularly attacks on Christian communities in the Middle Belt, as well as measures being taken by the Federal Government to protect vulnerable populations.

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Garcia disclosed that the US was engaging the Nigerian government through a Joint Working Group established following the country’s CPC designation.

He said discussions under the framework focused on increased security deployments, prompt responses to early-warning signals, accountability for perpetrators and enhanced military cooperation.

According to him, Washington expects Nigeria to demonstrate measurable progress in tackling insecurity and protecting vulnerable communities.

He added that the US would sustain diplomatic and security engagements with Nigeria while closely assessing the government’s response to the crisis.

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