NHRC, groups demand probe of Ekiti rigging tape

Chidi Odinkalu

The National Human Rights Commission and some groups under the umbrella of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room have called for “a credible, independent and impartial” probe of rigging allegedly perpetrated by some politicians and military personnel in the Ekiti June 21, 2014 governorship election.

In a communiqué the groups issued after a recent meeting, they viewed the allegation as “serious” and said the investigation must be carried out immediately.

The communiqué was jointly signed by the Chairman, NHRC, Chidi Odinkalu; and Head, the CSO Situation Room, Clement Nwankwo.

The bodies said they met to examine the “Pre-Election Report and Advisory on Violence in Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections,” which was issued recently by the NHRC as a measure to forestall election related violence.

The audio tape purportedly captured the voices of the governorship candidate of the Ekiti Peoples Democratic Party, now Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose; ex-Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro; Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Momoh, who was in charge of the election; Osun PDP governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore; and Minister for Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, in a meeting where they allegedly gave directives to the military to favour the PDP.

The groups said there was urgent need to investigate the allegations in the interest of credibility of elections in the country as well as that of the military as an institution and persons involved.

The communique read in part, “The allegations concerning the role of certain senior political and military personnel in the Ekiti governorship election are serious; and it is in the interest of the credibility of Nigeria’s election system and of all persons and institutions associated with these allegations that there should be a credible, independent and impartial investigation of these allegations without further delay.”

The NHRC and the CSOs stressed the need for the “protection of the independence, impartiality and credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission as the body constitutionally entrusted with responsibility for   organising elections in Nigeria.”

They affirm their commitment to ensuring the protection of the integrity and independence of key institutions of government like the police, military and the judiciary, among others, that are fundamental to democratic development, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria.

They stressed the need to preserve the independence, neutrality and impartiality of all security and law enforcement units deployed for election duty, including the responsibility to be impartial and respect the human rights of all voters, election administrators and agents.

Their communiqué further read, “The CSO Situation Room and the NHRC expressed shared concern about the tone and what appears to be the willingness of the leading political parties to turn the role of the security agencies in the 2015 general elections into a partisan issue and agreed to work together to protect the professionalism and neutrality of all security units or institutions to be deployed for the elections.

“Accordingly, the CSO Situation Room and the NHRC have agreed to establish a joint Technical Working Group to work together in developing clear Rules of Engagement together with Protocols for monitoring compliance by security agencies (including the police, military, internal security or para-military units) that may be deployed for election duties in the 2015 general elections. The working group shall report not later than the March 10, 2015.

“The Situation Room and the NHRC called for politicians from across the political divide to close ranks in protecting and defending the credibility of the electoral system.”