The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute all verified cases of political violence including attacks and snatching of ballot boxes and materials during the governorship and House of Assembly Polls.
The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu made this known on Sunday when he presented preliminary report on the elections held on Saturday.
He said the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, as part of its mandate to promote and protect human rights deployed 600 Human Right Monitors across the 36 states for the Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.
He added that the NHRC also through the Human Rights Situation Room, closely monitored the elections and received real time complaints on human rights violations during the elections from across the country.
“Our preliminary report highlights key findings from monitoring over 1300 polling units by our staff and reports and complaints received from Nigerians in our Human Rights Situation Room.
“The Commission during the elections process monitored among others issues relating to the conduct of law enforcement and security personnel, hate speech, election related Sexual and Gender based violence (SGBV) and vote buying” Ojukwu said.
As part of its recommendation, the commission urged the Nigeria Police Force to deploy human rights based approaches in managing cases of post – election violence and ensure the protection of lives and properties “as we conclude the 2023 electoral circle”.
“All law enforcement and security agents in the remaining unconcluded ongoing elections maintain political neutrality and impartiality in these election operations.
“That the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conducting future off-cycle elections continue to ensure transparency and integrity in the electoral processes”.
According to the Commission, “compared to the Presidential and National Assembly Election of February, the Governorship and House of ASsembly elections witnessed a low voter turnout.
The report cited states like Niger, Kwara, Benue and Kogi, where turn out was abysmally low, saying “in almost all the south eastern states, low turn out was also recorded”.
He said “vote buying was reported in 14% of polling units monitored by NHRC monitors. “Our monitors also reported 192 incidents of vote buying, which is a disturbing trend in our electoral process”.
Specifically Ojukwu noted that the Commission received reports of vote buying from Imo, Zamfara, Cross River and Kano states.
He emphasised that these preliminary findings from its field monitors and Human Rights Situation Room provide an important snapshot of the human rights situation during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections, adding that “we will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available”.
