The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said it would invite MC Oluomo, the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and hundreds of others over incidences of hate speech, electoral violence, obstruction of voters and other infractions reported against them in the course of the presidential, national assembly, governorship and state assembly elections.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, stated this Sunday, while briefing newsman on the preliminary findings of the Situation Room set up by the Commission specifically for the 2023 general election. The briefing took place at the national secretariat of the Commission in Abuja.
Chief Ojukwu who was responding to questions from Nationwide Reports, said he was sure, the affected persons are gentlemen who would not hesitate to respond to invitation from the Commission to clear their names on the allegations.
Oluomo was reported to have said on the eve of the governorship in Lagos that only those ready to vote the ruling APC should come out on election day while supporters of opposition parties should stay at home.
On his part, the Kogi State governor was reported to have constructed barriers on many roads leading to the home town of an opposition candidate for the national assembly election.
The NHRC boss said while the Situation Room received over 300 complaints after the presidential election, it has so far got nearly 150 within few hours after the governorship and state assembly elections, adding that more are being expected.
He said that the Commission would soon announce the date of the commencement of investigation of reported cases sent to it by the public including hate speech, violence, obstruction of access to polling units, extrajudicial killings and gender related assaults, among others.
Details of Ojukwu’s speech coming later…