NHRC Warns Against Hate Speech, Incitement Ahead Of 2027 Elections

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has warned political actors, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders against the use of hate speech, incitement, intimidation and divisive rhetoric ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying unchecked inflammatory statements could threaten peaceful coexistence and democratic participation.

The Commission said Nigeria must act before dangerous rhetoric translates into violence, urging security and law enforcement agencies to respond to credible cases of incitement and threats in accordance with the law and due process.

Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu,gave the warning at a press conference at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, where he said recent statements attributed to some public figures had raised serious human rights concerns.

Ojukwu specifically referred to statements attributed to Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir and Senator Francis Fadahunsi, saying the Commission considered some of the remarks capable of denigrating individuals or groups, deepening social divisions, heightening tensions and potentially instigating violence.

He, however, stressed that the NHRC’s intervention was not targeted at any political party, religious group, ethnic community or individual, but was a human rights intervention aimed at protecting the dignity and equal worth of every Nigerian.

According to him, while freedom of expression remains a fundamental human right, it carries responsibilities and does not confer a licence to incite violence, promote hatred, dehumanise others or deliberately provoke hostility against individuals or communities.

“Hate speech should not be dismissed as mere political rhetoric or provocative language,” Ojukwu said, warning that when public discourse portrays individuals or communities as enemies, inferior, dangerous or undeserving of rights and protection, it could fuel discrimination, exclusion, intimidation and violence.

He said the consequences could include the erosion of human dignity and equality, political violence, voter intimidation, discrimination, restrictions on meaningful political participation and the deepening of ethnic, religious and regional divisions.

The NHRC boss further warned that unchecked divisive rhetoric could undermine confidence in democratic institutions and discourage citizens from exercising their civic rights.

He said the 2027 elections must be contests of ideas, policies, programmes, competence and service rather than campaigns driven by ethnic hostility, religious antagonism or hatred.

According to him, election-related violence could manifest through attacks and threats against political opponents and voters, communal tensions, displacement, suppression of civic participation and the erosion of public trust in democratic institutions.

Ojukwu invoked the lessons of history, citing the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda as a painful reminder of the destructive consequences of sustained propaganda, denigration, dehumanisation and incitement.

He, however, stressed that Nigeria was not Rwanda, but warned that dangerous rhetoric must be addressed early to prevent circumstances from escalating into uncontrolled violence and chaos.

“Societies must not wait until inflammatory rhetoric translates into violence before taking preventive action,” he said, adding that prevention remained a fundamental human rights obligation and that government had the primary responsibility under national and international law to prevent violence and protect citizens.

The executive secretary said the NHRC would continue to monitor developments, document human rights concerns, engage relevant stakeholders and deploy its statutory powers to promote and protect human rights throughout the electoral cycle.

He called on political parties to strengthen internal mechanisms for preventing and sanctioning intimidating and inflammatory rhetoric while ensuring that their campaigns remained issue-based.

Ojukwu also urged religious, traditional and community leaders to deploy their influence in promoting peace, tolerance and mutual respect rather than hatred, violence and disunity.

He called on law enforcement agencies and other relevant institutions to act on credible cases of incitement, intimidation, threats and other unlawful conduct while respecting constitutional safeguards and fundamental rights.

The NHRC chief equally cautioned the media against amplifying inflammatory statements without adequate context, verification and consideration of the public interest.

He urged social media users to verify information before sharing content capable of provoking hatred, hostility or violence, particularly as the country moves closer to the 2027 elections.

He also encouraged Nigerians who witness or experience human rights violations to report them through lawful channels, including the National Human Rights Commission.

Addressing political leaders, Ojukwu said, “Compete on ideas, programmes, competence and your record of service—not on hatred or division.”

He similarly urged religious and traditional leaders to use their platforms to build bridges and protect the dignity of every Nigerian, while appealing to young Nigerians, particularly those active online, not to allow themselves to be used as instruments for spreading inflammatory content or misinformation.

The NHRC Executive Secretary maintained that Nigeria’s ethnic, religious and cultural diversity should be regarded as a strength rather than a source of division.

He said the protection of human rights and prevention of election-related violence must remain complementary objectives, stressing that citizens must be allowed to participate in the democratic process without fear, intimidation or discrimination.

“We must act before rhetoric becomes violence. We must promote dialogue before division becomes conflict. And we must protect human dignity before violations become irreversible,” he said.

Ojukwu said the forthcoming elections should provide an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy rather than trigger further divisions.

He added, “Let us disagree without dehumanising one another. Let us compete without destroying one another. Let us campaign without inciting one another. And let us protect the Nigeria we all share.”

The NHRC, he assured, would maintain its human rights-based approach to the electoral process, placing the dignity, safety, equality and participation of every Nigerian at the centre of the country’s democratic process.