Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and 36 state governors to publicly instruct the police and state security outfits to respect, protect, and facilitate the rights of everyone to freedom of expression, assembly, association, and equal participation during the election campaigns, regardless of their party affiliation.
SERAP also urged Buhari to “publicly instruct the police to facilitate the right of every Nigerian to participate on an equal basis in the political process in any part of the country, and to ensure the police is not used by state governors to target supporters of opposition parties and those holding differing political views.”
According to reports, there are concerns about the lack of a level playing field. The police in Ebonyi State recently dispersed hundreds of supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi who gathered for a rally in Abakaliki. Obi has also condemned the attack and intimidation of the party’s supporters.
In the letters dated, October 8, 2022 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said facilitating the rights of supporters of political parties to hold rallies and processions on an equal basis would promote public confidence in the integrity of the democratic process.
It said the right to participate meaningfully and equally in the political and electoral processes, including to hold rallies, processions or meetings during the campaigns is part and parcel of any system of representative government.
The letters, read in part: “We would continue to monitor how authorities, at all levels, are respecting, protecting, and facilitating these fundamental rights ahead of the 2023 elections. We would take all appropriate legal actions to ensure accountability for violations of these rights.
“Respecting, protecting, and facilitating the equal enjoyment of the rights of everyone to speak, assemble, hold rallies, processions or meetings would ensure the individual citizen can effectively participate in and contribute to the country’s democracy.
“These rights cannot be denied or abridged on account of differing political views or affiliations.
“Authorities must promptly, thoroughly, independently, impartially, and effectively investigate the reports of any violations of these rights, and bring suspected perpetrators, including non-state actors, to justice.”