The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, recognized, on Monday, the non-prosecution of electoral offenders as a problem to free and fair elections.
Mr Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stated electoral offences will stay an issue in Nigeria so long as folks can commit the crimes and get away with out penalties.
He spoke when he hosted a delegation from the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) on the NHRC headquarters in Abuja.
The visiting delegation was led by the Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (SRSG) and Head of UNOWAS, Leonardo Simao.
The go to mentioned Nigeria’s political and safety developments, significantly preparations for the 2027 normal elections, rising challenges and alternatives, and efforts to promote peaceable elections.
Mr Ojukwu spoke of the fee’s preparedness in direction of making certain a clean conduct of the upcoming elections.
He stated the fee had found that “people who are committing these election offences are acting on behalf of key politicians.”
This, in accordance to him, makes it tough for the politicians “to be held accountable for the acts of their agents.”
“And this continues to make the environment very fragile. Because as long as people can commit these election-related offences and go scot-free, then anybody can try anything they like,” the senior advocate stated.
He expressed displeasure over the failure to implement a advice of the Justice Mohammed Uwais electoral reform report for “the establishment of an election offences framework, which is supposed to deal disproportionately with any election-related offence.” The committee was arrange by the then-President Umaru Yar’adua to reform the nation’s electoral system after admitting that the 2007 election that introduced him into workplace was flawed.
Mr Ojukwu famous that the go to was an excellent event to convey this subject to the limelight, expressing confidence that the delegation would additional interface with key authorities officers.
Mechanisms in place
Mr Ojukwu noticed that political campaigns for the 2027 normal elections have been marked by controversial remarks from public figures.
Prominent Islamic cleric Sani Jingir controversially described Nigeria as a Muslim-majority nation and referred to as for mass assist for the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 whereas condemning whoever opposed it.
This generated backlash and even led to the NHRC’s demand for Mr Jingir’s arrest for inciting spiritual hatred and hate speech.
Similarly, the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, issued demise threats to members of the Accord Party discovered within the Ilesa axis of the state days earlier than the Osun State governorship election in August.
In the identical month, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Danjuma Shekwolo, was seen in a video asking residents to both vote for the APC or go away the council areas.
Mr Ojukwu famous that every one these don’t encourage a stage enjoying area for the marketing campaign.
To curb this, Mr Ojukwu disclosed that the fee was making ready an advisory to information the behaviour of political actors, safety operatives and for the federal government to know its limits in interfering with residents’ rights.
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He additionally stated one other advisory to information the federal government’s response to civic house can also be in place to assist tackle the concern induced by the misuse of the Cybercrime Act.
Campaigns should happen inside the limits of the regulation
Mr Simao counseled the NHRC for its effort. He famous that campaigns should happen inside the limits of the regulation, the preservation of human life, and significantly the prevention of violence.
He famous that the essence of the go to was to work with totally different establishments, totally different stakeholders, and to study from them how their establishment is being ready for this upcoming interval.
“When elections go without violence, there is a lot of work that happens before. Sometimes it is not visible to the general public. Our role as a United Nations, and Nigeria is an important member of the United Nations, is to assist when necessary to reach the objective that the elections take place in a serene, peaceful atmosphere.”
Mr Simao inspired NHRC to proceed with that patriotic angle and patriotic engagement to conduct peaceable elections.
He famous that the delegation didn’t come as inspectors to police the actions of the NHRC: “Our goal is that Nigeria proceed to be an instance of other forms of assist. So you can’t afford to fail. It’s forbidden for Nigeria to fail.
“Our work is continuing to remind you that you can do it and you are going to do it,” he stated.
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