… Commission says disenfranchisement of Nigerians across Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi states should be addressed in subsequent elections
The National Human Rights Commission has commended the voter turnout in last Saturday presidential and National assembly elections across the country.
Addressing newsmen on Sunday in the Commission’s 2023 election situation room in Abuja , the Executive Secretary of the Commission Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN appealed to politicians, traditional and religious leaders and citizens to eschew hate speeches, incitement to violence and divisive rhetoric in this critical moment of the transition programme.
In his address, Ojukwu said ”the National Human Rights Commission as part of its mandate to promote and protect human rights, launched its 2023 Election project “Mobilising Voters for Election (MOVE)” to ensure access, participation and accountability in the electoral process.
“The Commission on 25th of February 2023 mobilised and deployed 800 Human Rights Monitors across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to monitor the exercise of the right to vote and the level of access accorded to Nigerians to exercise these rights. The Commission also monitored the conduct of law enforcement and security personnel to note critical incidents relating to human rights violations occurring during and after the elections.
The ES also noted with regret the issue of disenfranchisement of Nigerians across Nigerians across Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi states while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the issues during the rescheduled election.
Speaking on the issues of electoral malpractices, the NHRC boss noted that pockets of anti-electoral practices such as vote buying, vote suppression and electoral violence were recorded across the country. He however urge security agencies to be vigilant and up their game in subsequent elections.
In its recommendations the National Human Rights Commission calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission to:
1. Ensure that Nigerians who were disenfranchised on election day are able to vote in the rescheduled elections. Disenfranchisement is a violation of the right to vote and could be a major trigger for election violence and impacts on the legitimacy and acceptability of election results. Everything therefore should be done to ensure that Nigerians who trooped out in their millions to vote are afforded the opportunity to do so.
2. Ensure prompt uploads of results of elections into its election results portals to ensure transparency and integrity in the electoral process.
3. Re-appraise its logistics strategy to ensure that:
a. Materials and personnel arrive on time during the governorship and houses of assembly election in March.
b. Materials which are essential instruments for the exercise of the right to vote are available. INEC must ensure that voting materials are complete and enough for the huge size of electorates.
4. Revamp its feedback platforms including call lines to enable Nigerians reach INEC to directly report on situations on the electoral process.
9.2 The National Human Rights Commission calls on the Nigerian Police Force and other law enforcement and security agencies to:
1. Ensure security of electoral materials and personnel in the rescheduled elections and the forthcoming gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.
2. Continue to maintain political neutrality and impartiality in election operations.
3. Arrest and prosecute all cases of political violence, including attacks and snatching of ballot boxes and materials.
4. Manage and contain using human rights based approaches, case of post-election violence and ensure the protection of lives and properties as we enter into a critical period in the electoral process.
Concluding in his address Chief Ojukwu calls on all Nigerians to remain calm, patriotic and loyal to the laws of Nigeria. Nigerians should eschew violence of all kinds and see the elections as a contest that will produce winners and losers. We also call on Nigerians to repeat the huge turnout for the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
