The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has warned politicians and their supporters against hate speech in the run up to the elections.
The Chairman of the governing council of the commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, gave the warning at the launch of the Pre-election Report and Advisory on Violence in Nigeria’s 2015 general election.
It’s been a series of campaign with accusations especially between the two top political parties in the country, in a bid to woo voters.
On the social media, it has also been a war of words between the supporters of the two major candidates in the 2015 presidential elections.
This scenario, according to the NHRC, poses a danger to the country as the polls approach.
Odinkalu announced that 58 persons had been killed with hundreds of people injured within the last 50 days of election campaigns and many more might follow if things do not change.
He urged politicians, especially the presidential flag bearers, to embark on new narratives and caution their supporters so as to prevent a big crisis during and after the polls.
The commission wants the two main actors in the polls to go beyond signing a peace accord to providing a public service announcement denouncing violence.
They also want the politicians and their supporters to stop the hate message and canvass for votes without heating up the polity.
