By George Ozalla
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, has declared that credible elections are a fundamental human right and not a privilege, stressing that the significance of June 12 lies in its enduring lesson on democratic accountability and respect for the will of the people.
Ojukwu stated this in a Democracy Day message, noting that the June 12, 1993 presidential election remains Nigeria’s strongest evidence that free, fair and transparent elections are achievable when institutions act with integrity and uphold the wishes of citizens.
He said the electoral framework introduced by Humphrey Nwosu, particularly the Option A4 and Modified Open Ballot system, demonstrated that electoral credibility could be attained through sincerity on the part of electoral management bodies, transparency in the process, and strict adherence to the law.
According to him, the right of citizens to participate in government through free elections is guaranteed under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The NHRC boss maintained that practices such as voter suppression, vote buying, electoral violence and manipulation of results should not be viewed merely as procedural shortcomings but as direct violations of citizens’ civil and political rights.
He expressed concern that more than three decades after the historic June 12 election, such violations continue to undermine public confidence in the electoral process, weaken democratic accountability and diminish the dignity of voters.
Ojukwu further stated that when elections are compromised, other fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, association, participation and peaceful assembly, also come under threat.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, security agencies, the judiciary, civil society organisations and the media to uphold the principles of neutrality, transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
The Executive Secretary assured that the Commission would intensify its monitoring of elections across the country, document violations and pursue appropriate remedies for victims in line with its statutory mandate.
He also urged the National Assembly to strengthen legal safeguards that protect electoral independence and guarantee access to justice for citizens.
Ojukwu stressed that institutionalising electoral integrity remains essential to the realization of free and fair elections in Nigeria, adding that the NHRC stands ready to work with government and other stakeholders to ensure that credible elections become a practical reality for every Nigerian.
