The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has established a dedicated Situation Room to receive and respond to complaints of hate speech, incitement, intimidation and other forms of inflammatory or divisive rhetoric ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections.
The Commission also provided a toll-free hotline, 6472, through which Nigerians can report cases from anywhere in the country as part of measures to strengthen early detection and response to rhetoric capable of threatening human rights, peaceful coexistence and democratic participation.
The NHRC also warned that hate speech, incitement, intimidation and divisive rhetoric could threaten human rights, peaceful coexistence and democratic participation as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 General Elections.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, gave the warning at a press conference at the NHRC headquarters in Abuja, urging political actors, public officials, religious and traditional leaders, the media and citizens to prevent inflammatory rhetoric from escalating into violence.
Ojukwu said the Commission had become concerned about statements attributed to some public figures, including Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir and Senator Francis Fadahunsi, which it assessed as capable of denigrating individuals or groups, deepening social divisions and heightening tensions.
He stressed that the Commission’s intervention was not targeted at any political party, religious group, ethnic community or individual but was intended to protect human dignity and create conditions for peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. However, freedom of expression carries responsibilities,” Ojukwu said.
He stated that the right to free expression “does not provide a licence to incite violence, promote hatred, dehumanise others or deliberately provoke hostility against persons or communities.”
According to the NHRC chief, hate speech should not be treated as mere political rhetoric because language portraying people or communities as enemies, inferior or undeserving of rights could contribute to discrimination, intimidation, exclusion and violence.
“Prevention is a fundamental human rights obligation, and the government has the primary responsibility under both national and international law to prevent violence and protect the people,” he said.
On the 2027 elections, the NHRC executive secretary said the process should allow Nigerians to freely determine their political future and should be based on ideas, policies, programmes, competence and service.
“The 2027 General Elections must therefore be contests of ideas, policies, programmes, competence and service, not contests defined by hatred, ethnic hostility or religious antagonism,” he said.
He warned that unchecked divisive rhetoric could fuel political violence, communal tensions, displacement, insecurity and voter intimidation, while discouraging citizens from speaking, assembling or participating freely in the electoral process.
The Commission called on political parties to strengthen internal mechanisms for preventing and sanctioning inflammatory rhetoric and urged religious, traditional and community leaders to use their influence to promote tolerance, peace and mutual respect.
The NHRC also called on the media to uphold professional and ethical standards and avoid amplifying potentially harmful statements without adequate context, verification and public-interest considerations.
Addressing young Nigerians, particularly those active online, Ojukwu warned them against allowing themselves to be used to spread inflammatory content and misinformation.
The Commission said it would continue to monitor developments, document human rights concerns, engage stakeholders and use its statutory powers to promote and protect human rights throughout the electoral cycle.
“We must act before rhetoric becomes violence. We must promote dialogue before division becomes conflict. And we must protect human dignity before violations become irreversible,” Ojukwu said.
He urged Nigerians to preserve the country’s diversity and ensure that political competition did not become a source of violence or discrimination.
“Let us disagree without dehumanising one another. Let us compete without destroying one another. Let us campaign without inciting one another. And let us protect the Nigeria we all share,” he said. NHRC Sets Up Situation Room Ahead Of 2027 Elections
Credit: von.gov.ng
