Wealthy Nigerian businessmen and politicians are planning to escape in droves with members of their families to seek refuge in the United Kingdom until the elections are over.

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They are edgy about what ‘democracy Nigeriana’ still has in store, in terms of violence, which could turn deadlier in the coming days.

Many, mostly from the South West and Niger Delta, have finalised travel plans and concluded accommodation arrangements with property consultants in London, their traditional holiday destination.

Sources disclosed that the politicians are scheduled to travel out from April 1 and may not return until a new government is installed on May 29.

There were feelers on Tuesday that the British High Commission in Nigeria may increase its visa application fees by 100 per cent from April 1.

The fee for a multi entry application may jump from N25,000 to N50,000.

It is not clear if this is to discourage Nigerians from traveling to the UK.

Few are deterred, any way. Those who do not have properties of their own in London have contacted estate agents to get them affordable safety nests.

A foreign airline official confirmed that airlines operating from Nigeria to the UK have had most of their flights booked till the end of October.

"We are having it good this time around, most of your people are traveling out before the elections. Maybe they are not sure of what is likely to happen because the campaigns have been marred by violence that pose serious danger to the next general elections," he said.

The favourite places Nigerians are likely to lodge in London include Hammersmith (West); Westminster (Central); Hampstead (North); and Camberwell (South).

One estate consultant said they have booked most of the apartments that have been vacant for months, although the influx would not affect rent.

A three-bedroom apartment in some of the areas cost about £600 (N153,000) per month.

Election violence in Nigeria has manifested in forms of blatant disregard for the rule of law; use of violent, and uncouth language by government officials as well as party leaders; inter-party factional fights; and assassinations.

There have also been poster wars, besides opposing sides employing thugs to unleash terror on their opponents to disrupt their campaigns.

Several aspirants have fallen to the assassin’s bullet in the last few months when serious preparations began for the ballot.

A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Funsho Williams, was killed at his home on July 27 last year. Another candidate was killed in his Ijan Ekiti home in Ekiti State on August 14 last year.

Bayelsa, Delta, and Edo have witnessed several bomb attacks.

Parties are guilty of the use of violence, particularly those that employ social misfits to visit mayhem on opponents to disrupt their rallies.

Two factions of the Oyo State chapter of the PDP recently engaged in violence at the party’s rally in Akure over the choice of the governorship candidate.

Hell broke loose when the party’s flag was given to Oyo Deputy Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, instead of Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

Supporters of the PDP, AC, and ANPP have fought running battles on the streets of Abeokuta.

Another incident involving the PDP and the AC occurred in Ajah, a suburb of Lagos, when hoodlums fired gun shots and forced Governor Bola Tinubu and the AC’s flag bearer, Babatunde Fashola, to scamper for safety.

Similar clashes between rival parties have taken place in Sokoto and Bauchi States and other parts of the country as well.