Amnesty International (AI), yesterday, tasked political parties, politicians, security forces and interest groups in Nigeria to refrain from condoning or engaging in violence or incitement that could deprive people of their human rights ahead of this year’s general elections.
The group said stakeholders must be free from further violence and intimidation, while effective measures must be in place to protect participants and prevent human rights violations.
Director of AI Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, in a statement said: “The desperation of political actors during campaigns, expressed recently through cases of incitement, as well as attacks on convoys and individuals in some states, is unacceptable. The failure of the authorities to bring to justice those responsible for violence during previous elections has created an atmosphere of impunity and emboldened others.
“There is a pattern of gender-based violence like threatening women and girls with rape designed to intimidate or prevent them voting. That must stop.”
Nigerian authorities must uphold human rights obligations under international law and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by making sure that advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, has no place in the country.”
