The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the election-related violence, particularly the killing of 10 law enforcement agents and security personnel, as well as seven NNPP supporters in Kano State.
The Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, also noted the consistent attack on INEC facilities; attacks by unknown gunmen, political intolerance, and hate speech were specifically recorded during the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Election.
Ojukwu made this known in the third monthly review meeting of Mobilising Voters for Election(MOVE) project in Abuja.
Ojukwu described such acts as gross violations of human rights
” Elections are the expression of the rights of the people and there must be accountability for the violation of these rights.”
” There are other serious human rights violations which has characterized the last Saturday’s election are voter suppression and intimidation as recorded in Lagos, Rivers, Imo, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, and Delta.
” These new threats “will impact on the integrity and credibility of the electoral process which may lead to voter apathy for the upcoming gubernatorial and house of assembly elections in March”.
” We commend the conduct of security personnel during the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections,” he said.
According to him, the reports emanating from the human rights situation room revealed that the officers performed their duties devoid of suppression and intimidation of voters as recorded in past elections.
“Despite the massive turnout of voters, the law enforcement agent and security personnel were able to execute their role as human rights defenders during the electoral process.
” The Commission is calling on INEC to upload results electronically to validate the result being announced at the collation center.
” This is within the law that uploading the result and transmitting hard copies of election results must be done simultaneously and this must be respected,” he said.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator, of the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) Mr. Chinonye Obiagwu, SAN called on INEC to follow the laid down rules in the collation of results to ensure transparency in the electoral process.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani in his goodwill message commended the Commission for mainstreaming human rights issues into the electoral process.
He said the National Human Rights Commission has condemned in strong terms the election-related violence it recorded in February
According to him, especially the killings of 10 law enforcement agents and security personnel, as well as the killing of 7 NNPP supporters in Kano State.
