NHRC | National Human Rights Commission

Press Briefing by the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission Mr. Roland Ewubare on the February 6, 2010 Anambra Governorship Election

Greetings and Protocol

At the National Human Rights Commission we believe, like most progressive and rational minded people, that the right of people to choose persons to represent them in furtherance of the principle of democratic representation is a key right upon which other rights are founded. As such, the NHRC in fulfillment of its mandate under the National Human Rights Commission Act 1995 has historically monitored general and other elections across the country since the inception of democratic governance in 1999.

The purpose of elections in any civilized aggregation of people is to provide a mechanism to amplify the voices and choices of the community. People come together and through a fair and transparent process transfer their individual authority and “mandates’ to those they have so chosen in the electoral process. Those chosen people then speak as the representatives of those who have chosen and elected them.

Whenever the simplistic process described above is meaningfully implemented, the seeds of a system of responsible and accountable governance are sown. That is why credibly organized elections are important. That is why we are here in Awka! That is why we are here to stand with the good people of Anambra, and to watch over this process with the rest of the world to ensure that this key and important election passes muster and meets the minimal threshold by all.

Like the previous exercises, our main focus will be on the activities and conduct of law enforcement officers on election duties in particular and the conduct of the election in general. Elections conducted in a climate of fear, intimidation, human rights violations and other manifestations of insecurity, can be anything, but free and fair. For this reason, we place enhanced emphasis on the crucial role of the security operatives in any election.

We strongly believe that the Feb 6 election will be litmus test for the 2011 General Elections and as such we request that it is imperative that all the necessary arrangements particularly in the realm of security and logistic support be put in place to ensure a free and fair election.

We want to utilize this medium to call upon all stake holders, particularly the candidates who have offered themselves up for election, to strive and endeavour to play by the rules before, during and after the elections. All parties, candidates and their supporters should eschew the unwholesome relics of Nigerian politics exemplified by violence and thuggery.

The elemental and fundamental rights of the Anambra voter to freely choose who represents him or her must be respected without qualification.

Elections should not be seen as an end but rather a means to fulfill the yearnings and aspirations of the people who form the basis of the mandate up for grabs!

The entire Nigerian nation and the international community are watching the Anambra elections with keen interest. Evidence of this is glaring here in Awka as seen from the presence of NGOs, CSOs and election monitors from within and outside Nigeria.

Let me use this opportunity to announce in clear terms, without reservation or equivocation, that the NHRC under my leadership working in close concert with NGOs and CSOs is committed to deploying every device within the parameters of national and international law to significantly improve the present state of play as it concerns elections in Nigeria. In this regard, we will be adopting the “Kenya Model” and seeking to use the instrumentality of the International Criminal Court of Justice at The Hague to invoke sanctions against candidates and other persons who are found to be contributors to any form of violence that results in the loss of life and limb. I have sought and received legal opinions confirming that violence attributable to incitement from electioneering campaigns rise to the same level as crimes against humanity!

Bottom line, any candidate who directly or remotely induces or condones violence in this Anambra elections will answer to processes beyond the shores of Nigeria…..they will have to answer to the rest of civilized humanity on the same basis as war criminals, mass murderers and practitioners of genocide. This is the reality of 2010…..it may not have been the reality of 1999 or 2003 or 2007 but this is the reality NOW….it’s the reality in Kenya and it’s the reality in Nigeria.

Anambra has had more than its fair share of political violence and the victims of these anti-democratic behaviors in the past were the common people. It is our duty to protect these people and their rights.

We call on INEC, the Police, the Political Parties and all the relevant agencies to put their hands on deck and ensure that come Saturday February 6, 2010 Anambra witnesses a free, fair and transparent election. The people of Anambra, the people of Nigeria and the rest of the World expect no less.

Thank you.

Roland Ewubare
Executive Secretary
Awka, Anambra State
Feb 4, 2010