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United States officials have pledged to monitor Nigeria’s January presidential election closely, warning that the poll could heighten political tensions and trigger violence in a country already grappling with serious security challenges.
The Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, highlighted the risk in 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 obstacles to efforts to tackle insecurity, cautioning that the political contest could create conditions for further 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 pointed to pressure on Nigeria’s security agencies, inadequate judicial presence across parts of the Middle Belt and limited resources as factors complicating efforts to address the crisis.
His remarks came as Washington continued to express concern over attacks on Christian communities and Nigeria’s response following its designation as a Country of Particular Concern by US President Donald Trump on October 31, 2025.
At the hearing, US Congressman Riley Moore urged American lawmakers and officials to pay close attention to the election, stressing the need for sustained scrutiny of developments before and during the exercise.
“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 already had a specialised team monitoring elections worldwide.
Barnes described Nigeria’s poll as a priority and assured lawmakers that the department would closely follow the electoral process.
“I’m glad you raised that. We’re also tracking them closely. We have a team that, in my bureau that 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 hearing also considered continuing attacks in Nigeria, particularly those targeting Christian communities in the Middle Belt, as well as the Nigerian government’s efforts to protect vulnerable populations.
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Garcia said the United States was working with the Nigerian government through a Joint Working Group established after Nigeria’s CPC designation.
He explained that discussions under the arrangement covered the deployment of additional security personnel, prompt action on early warnings, accountability for those responsible for attacks and closer military cooperation.
The US official said Washington expected the Nigerian government to show tangible improvements in tackling the violence, adding that diplomatic engagement and security cooperation with the country would continue.
