By Joel Gwom,
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on Nigerians to rise above voter apathy and actively participate in the 2027 general elections.
The Commission made the call in a statement signed by the Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Esq., as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Democracy.
In the statement, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, said the International Day of Democracy reminds us that democracy is not just about elections, but about the dignity, voice and rights of every citizen.
Chief Ojukwu, who is also the President of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA), stated that democracy represents the freedom to speak, to choose, to participate, and to hold power accountable without fear.
He lamented that democracy dies when citizens withdraw and remain silent, stressing that the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) remains the power of the people to choose desired leaders.
The Chief Human Rights Officer of Nigeria therefore urged eligible Nigerians not to stay away from the polls, not to sell their votes, and not to believe that votes do not count, describing voting as both a right and a duty to Nigeria.
On the political class, Ojukwu called on all politicians, political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint and responsibility in public utterances, adding that democracy thrives on debate, not on hate speech, inciteful statements, ethnic profiling or threats.
He reiterated that the Commission will continue to monitor hate speech and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 polls.
He also called on the Federal Government, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a level playing field for all and to guarantee the safety of voters, journalists, observers, human rights defenders and citizens at large.
“Anyone regardless of status or party affiliation, who attempts to make the polity unbearable, who sponsors violence, vote-buying, voter suppression, or attacks on democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 General Elections, must be promptly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Impunity remains the greatest threat to democracy,” the statement added.