The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has inaugurated a situation room to monitor human rights compliance in the general elections, slated to occur on Saturday, March 11th.
The inauguration took place on Friday, and at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, made it clear that free and fair elections were essential for maintaining a democratic system of governance.
He also noted that the lines to the situation room would be open 24 hours a day from now until March 1 and 10 to 16 so that people could report any rights abuse or violations that may occur during the elections.
Ojukwu further highlighted the importance of the citizen's right to participate in the governance process, including the right to vote and to stand for elections, which are central tenets of democracy.
To ensure that such rights are not violated during the elections, Mr Ojukwu signed guidelines on law enforcement and security agencies' role in protecting voters' access and participation.
These guidelines will provide the framework for the security forces to protect the people's right to exercise their democratic right to vote and be a part of the electoral process.
The NHRC will also monitor the elections to ensure people's rights are respected during this critical event.
"Since 1999, when Nigeria began its current democratic voyage, the NHRC has been playing a fundamental role in advancing Nigeria's democracy through the development of programmes.
"These programmes aim to integrate human rights into the electoral process and support democratic institutions and election management bodies to deliver on their mandates.
"The commission's role in this regard is founded on the recognition of the importance of the consolidation of democracy in the realisation of all human rights in Nigeria," he said.
Mr Ojukwu said the fulfilment and enjoyment of human rights were critical cannons of a properly functioning democratic system.
He added that a thriving democracy provided an enabling environment for human rights to thrive.
"It is on this foundational premise that the NHRC launched its Election 2023 project called Mobilising Voters for Elections (MOVE).
"The project was officially launched on October 17th, 2022, to integrate human rights principles in the electoral process to ensure access, participation and accountability in the 2023 elections.
"As the name suggests, 2023 general elections, Human Rights Situation Room will be a hub inside the Commission where the commission plans to take advantage of its wide reach by having offices in the 36 states of Nigeria to monitor the conduct of the elections before, during and after the elections," he said.
According to the executive secretary, the focus of the Situation Room will be primarily targeted in reports on the human rights issues that will be at play during the election.
"For example, we will be closely monitoring the activities of law enforcement and security agencies during the elections.
"Law enforcement agencies have a primary responsibility to protect the security of voters when they cast their votes, but it is also their responsibility to help protect voter access and participation.
"The role of our security and law enforcement agencies in protecting voter access and ensuring full participation of citizens in elections can never be over-emphasised.
"Ours is a young democracy, and the 2023 elections are coming at a time of immense national challenges in terms of security, economy and social cohesion," he said.
He further noted that the Human Rights Situation Room would also receive and treat complaints of human rights violations across the 36 states and the FCT.
He added that the situation room was equipped with toll-free lines and shortcodes for easy and cost-free access to complaints by members of the public.
"The NHRC is putting everything in place to ensure that Nigerians can have confidence that their complaints will not go unheard when they call these toll-free lines.
"On our part, the National Human Rights Commission will not spare any efforts in addressing the issues raised by voters nationwide.
"We encourage Nigerians to confidently go out and exercise their fundamental right to vote.
"Ours is a participatory democracy, and Nigerians should participate and actively decide their future.
"I wish you all a safe, free and peaceful election," he said.
The toll-free line is 08006472428, with the shortcode 6472.