The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration to ensure peaceful, credible and violence-free general elections in Nigeria in 2027.
The commitment was made when the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, received a delegation of UNOWAS led by its Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr Leonardo Santos Simao, during a visit to Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, Ojukwu called for increased vigilance, accountability, and strict respect for human rights throughout the electoral process, warning that unresolved electoral offences, political intimidation, and hate speech could threaten the credibility and peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
He said the Commission was engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigerians could exercise their democratic rights freely without intimidation, discrimination, or violence. He added that efforts were being intensified to promote public awareness and active participation in the electoral process.
On election security, the NHRC boss said the Commission would closely monitor the activities of security agencies to ensure that their deployment at polling units was primarily aimed at protecting voters, electoral officials and other stakeholders, rather than intimidating citizens or political opponents.
Addressing concerns about freedom of expression, Ojukwu warned against the misuse of cybercrime legislation to silence legitimate public discussions and political opinions, particularly during the election period. He maintained that citizens must be able to express their views without undue restrictions or violations of their constitutional rights.
On electoral accountability, Ojukwu lamented the continued absence of a dedicated Election Offences Tribunal despite recommendations from previous electoral reform processes.
He argued that the lack of an effective mechanism for prosecuting electoral offences had allowed some perpetrators, particularly individuals acting on behalf of influential politicians, to escape justice through political interference.
He therefore advocated the establishment of an Election Offences Tribunal, describing it as an important mechanism for ensuring the effective prosecution of electoral violations and deterring political violence, intimidation and other offences.
Ojukwu also reaffirmed the NHRC’s readiness to work with UNOWAS and other international partners to strengthen preventive measures ahead of the elections.
Earlier, Simao explained that his visit to Nigeria was aimed at assessing the country’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections and identifying areas where the United Nations could provide support to sustain peace and stability before, during and after the polls.
He described elections as particularly challenging periods for countries, stressing that political competition must be conducted within the confines of the law and with due regard for human life.
He noted that West Africa was already confronted with terrorism, organized crime, and other security threats, making it necessary to prevent electoral disagreements from escalating into violence.
Simao said UNOWAS was engaging relevant institutions to understand Nigeria’s preparations, identify emerging challenges, and assess measures being implemented to guarantee a smooth electoral process.
The UN representative reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting Nigeria in conducting peaceful and secure elections that reflect the genuine will of the people in choosing their leaders at all levels.