PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Nigeria: 2 NGOs advocate impartial roles for security agencies at 2015 polls
Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Two Non-Governmental Organizations, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (CSO Situation Room) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), have expressed shared concerns about the tone and "what appears to be the willingness of the leading political parties to turn the role of security agencies in the 2015 general elections into a partisan issue".
In a press statement, jointly signed by Chidi Anslem Odinkalu, the NHRC Chairman, and Clement Nwankwo, Chairman of the CSO Situation Room, the NGOs said they had agreed to work together to protect the professionalism and neutrality of all security units or institutions to be deployed for the elections.
The statement, obtained by PANA here, said: "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 2015 General elections.
The Working Group shall report not later than the 10 March, 2015, it said, indicating that representatives of the CSO Situation Room and the NHRC met 26 February, 2015, in Abuja, concerning arrangements for the protection of the human right to franchise and participation in the 2015 elections.
According to the statement, the NHRC recently issued a Pre-Election Report and Advisory on Violence on Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections, as a concrete measure to forestall election related violence in Nigeria, protect human rights and bring accountability to bear for violations of human rights during the 2015 general elections.
At that meeting, both sides agreed and jointly reaffirmed commitment to: "Credible elections on the dates designated by INEC; Protection of the independence, impartiality and credibility of INEC as the body constitutionally entrusted with responsibility for organizing elections in Nigeria; Prevention and mitigation of violence, including the need to ensure the existence of a credible capability to address election-related violence and hate speech; and Protection of the integrity and independence of key institutions of government like the police, military, the judiciary etc that are fundamental to democratic development, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria."
They called on politicians from across the political divide to close ranks in protecting and defending the credibility of the electoral system.
On the allegations concerning the role of certain senior political and military personnel in the Ekiti Governorship Elections, the NGOs said it considered the issues serious, saying that "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."
-0- PANA PR/VAO 27Feb2015
In a press statement, jointly signed by Chidi Anslem Odinkalu, the NHRC Chairman, and Clement Nwankwo, Chairman of the CSO Situation Room, the NGOs said they had agreed to work together to protect the professionalism and neutrality of all security units or institutions to be deployed for the elections.
The statement, obtained by PANA here, said: "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 2015 General elections.
The Working Group shall report not later than the 10 March, 2015, it said, indicating that representatives of the CSO Situation Room and the NHRC met 26 February, 2015, in Abuja, concerning arrangements for the protection of the human right to franchise and participation in the 2015 elections.
According to the statement, the NHRC recently issued a Pre-Election Report and Advisory on Violence on Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections, as a concrete measure to forestall election related violence in Nigeria, protect human rights and bring accountability to bear for violations of human rights during the 2015 general elections.
At that meeting, both sides agreed and jointly reaffirmed commitment to: "Credible elections on the dates designated by INEC; Protection of the independence, impartiality and credibility of INEC as the body constitutionally entrusted with responsibility for organizing elections in Nigeria; Prevention and mitigation of violence, including the need to ensure the existence of a credible capability to address election-related violence and hate speech; and Protection of the integrity and independence of key institutions of government like the police, military, the judiciary etc that are fundamental to democratic development, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria."
They called on politicians from across the political divide to close ranks in protecting and defending the credibility of the electoral system.
On the allegations concerning the role of certain senior political and military personnel in the Ekiti Governorship Elections, the NGOs said it considered the issues serious, saying that "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."
-0- PANA PR/VAO 27Feb2015
