The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commenced sensitisation of citizens, particularly the electorate, on the need to exercise their rights to vote.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, SAN said the exercise was in line with its mandate of protecting and promoting the human rights of Nigerians.
Ojukwu who gave the theme of the exercise as ” Mobilising Voters for Elections” decried increasing level of voter apathy in previous elections.
He gave example of elections where turn out was poor as the 2011, 2015, 2019 polls and the governorship election of 2021 in Anambra State, where voters turnout was only 10 per cent.
“To close this gap, the commission is currently undertaking a project aimed at mobilising voters to promote electoral rights of citizens.
“Also, it is ensuring that all key actors including the security agencies political parties and INEC etc, adhere to international best practices in carrying out their respective duties before, during and after the elections.
” Nigeria’s democracy is founded upon it’s history of authoritarian military regimes, poor human rights records and stunted electoral culture.
” With over two decades of democratic governance and six cycles of presidential elections it’s safe to say that Nigeria’s democracy has consolidated in terms of periodic elections and consequent hand over by one government to another.
” However, in terms of electoral participation by Nigerian citizens, the reverse seems to be the case.
” Election after election, citizens’ participation seems to be waning and voter apathy continues to rise” he said.
Ojukwu said, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), report on the percentage of registered voters in the 2011, 2015 and 2019 elections were 53.7, 43.6 and 34.75 per cent respectively.
He added that of the 84 million registered voters in 2019, only 28.6 million voters cast their ballots at the presidential election.
” In per capita terms, turn out in 2019 election represented the lowest in the West African subregion.
” MOVE is a multifaceted and multi-dimensional programme and human rights based campaign which seeks to facilitate access and promote participation of electorates in the 2023 general elections” he said.
Explaining the frame work of the project, Mr Hiliary Ogbonna, the facilititor said that the project has four objectives.
According to Ogbonna, the project will promote participation, facilitate access to PVC, mobilise citizens to vote and protect the vote.
” The commission will organise High-Level Forum on Human Rights for Political Parties and Candidates.
” Also, it will establish a National Register for Hate Speech, promote normative principles and frameworks for human rights oversight of security and law enforcement operations in the elections.
” The Commission will Develop Guidelines for the Protection of Voters’ Access Principles in Security Operations at Elections and Organize Consultations and Sensitizations for the Nigerian Police Force on the Protection of Voters’ Access Principles at Elections.
” It will setup national PVC observatory with Abuja as the Head office and also collaborate with Facebook and Twitter to monitor complaints” he said.
