2027 polls must focus on ideas, competence, NHRC boss tells politicians

By Jude Opara

As the country gets set for the 2027 general elections, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has tasked politicians to base their campaign on ideas, policies, competence, programmes and service, as against hatred, ethnic profiling or religious antagonism.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu stated this Thursday at a world press conference tagged curbing hate speech, incitement, intimidation and divisive rhetoric ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ojukwu frowned at the recent cases of hate speech and incitement involving Islamic cleric, Yahaya Jingir and Sen. Francis Fadahunsi who respectively described Christians as infidels and urging supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state to kill members of the Accord Party.

According to him, contests defined by hatred, ethnic hostility or religious antagonism, unchecked divisive rhetoric can contribute to: political violence, displacement and insecurity where communities, suppression of civic participation, erosion of democratic institutions and public trust.

The NHRC boss further warned that hate speech and incitement must not be dismissed as mere political rhetoric or provocative language, because it could lead to a total breakdown of law and order.

“When public discourse portrays individuals or communities as enemies, inferior, dangerous or undeserving of rights and protection, it can contribute to discrimination, exclusion, intimidation and violence.

“The consequences may include: erosion of human dignity and equality; incitement and escalation of violence; discrimination against individuals and communities; restrictions on meaningful political participation; intimidation of voters and political opponents; deepening of ethnic, religious and regional divisions; and undermining of public confidence in democratic institutions”.

Ojukwu also charged the security agencies and other relevant government institutions to rise up to their responsibility by taking urgent steps arrest and prosecute those who have already crossed the redline by making incendiary comments.

“We have written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), DG Department of State Services (DSS), the National Security Adviser (NSA) to arrest these people and prosecute them.

“The power to prosecute these people lies with the police and the Attorney General. Already we have written to these personalities to do their job.

“Nigerians are asking if Jingir is above the law, he can’t be above the laws of the country. If they don’t arrest him, it will open a flood gate for other clerics to make such incendiary comments.

The reported news that he has said he will not apologize is an affront to the security agencies”.

He also advised religious leaders and political elites to be mindful of their actions and utterances, so as not to overheat the polity.

“Religious leaders and political elites must know that we have no other country to run to. Anybody who crosses the line must be made to face the full weight of the law.

“In Osun state, we understand a lot of people have already lost their lives. Nobody knows what will happen next if the trend is not arrested. Therefore prosecuting them will also serve as a deterrent to other would be offenders”.

The nation’s chief human rights defender equally stated that the federal government is happy with the role the NHRC is playing to checkmate the excesses of politicians and religious leaders.

“I’m sure that the government is happy about the role we are playing. If we were not here doing what we are doing, nobody knows what would have happened. But now politicians who are spreading hate speech will now think twice before making such comments”.

He also revealed that the Commission has established a Situation Room where Nigerians with credible evidence of hate speech and intimidation can reach report such incidents. The Situation Room will run from now to the end of the general elections in February, 2027