The United States has pledged to closely monitor Nigeria’s forthcoming January presidential election, warning that the exercise could trigger fresh violence amid the country’s persistent security challenges.
The warning was issued by the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, during a congressional hearing organised by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa on Thursday.
Garcia, in his prepared testimony, identified the forthcoming election as one of the major challenges confronting efforts to address insecurity in Nigeria, cautioning that political tensions surrounding the exercise could worsen the country’s fragile security situation.
“I am realistic about the challenges ahead. For example, Nigeria will hold presidential elections in January, which could spur violence,” he said.
He also highlighted several obstacles facing Nigeria’s security architecture, including overstretched security agencies, limited judicial presence in parts of the Middle Belt and inadequate resources to tackle persistent attacks.
The congressional hearing came amid growing international concerns over repeated attacks on Christian communities and the Nigerian government’s response to insecurity.
The concerns have intensified following US President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern on October 31, 2025, over religious freedom issues.
During the hearing, US Congressman Riley Moore called for heightened international scrutiny of Nigeria’s forthcoming presidential election, insisting that Washington must pay particular attention to how the electoral process unfolds.
“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 to the lawmaker, the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Riley Barnes, disclosed that the State Department had already activated a dedicated team to monitor elections across different parts of the world.
He described Nigeria’s election as a high-priority exercise, assuring lawmakers that the United States would closely follow developments before, during and after the polls.
Barnes said Washington’s monitoring efforts would form part of its broader engagement with countries considered strategically important to democratic governance.
The hearing also examined measures being taken by the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities, particularly in the Middle Belt, where recurring attacks have raised concerns over civilian safety.
Garcia disclosed that the United States was engaging Nigerian authorities through a Joint Working Group established following Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern.
Discussions under the arrangement reportedly focus on deploying additional security personnel, improving responses to early-warning signals, ensuring accountability for perpetrators and strengthening military cooperation.
He added that Washington expected measurable improvements from the Nigerian government in addressing insecurity.
The latest US position underscores growing international attention on Nigeria’s political and security environment as preparations for the forthcoming election gather momentum.
