The  Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Professor Tony Ojukwu, has canvassed for a peaceful, inclusive and rights-respecting polity ahead of 2027 general election

Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, made the appeal on Wednesday against the backdrop of Nigeria joining the rest of the world to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Democracy.

His position on the significance of the Democracy Day was made public in a statement on his behalf by Mrs Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages.

He said that the day reminds the world that democracy is not just about elections, but about the dignity, voice, and rights of every citizen.

Ojukwu stated that democracy represents the freedom to speak, to choose, to participate, and to hold power accountable without fear.

As the nation approaches the 2027 General Elections, he called on all politicians, political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint and responsibility in public utterances.

He further stressed that democracy thrives on debate, not on hate speech, inciteful statements, ethnic profiling, or threats.

The professor of law reiterated that words can build peace or destroy the nation, and urged the political class to make campaigns issue-based and shun any language capable of inciting violence or undermining national unity.

The Chief Human Rights Officer of the country noted that the commission will continue to monitor hate speech and electoral violence.

He called on every eligible Nigerian to rise above voter apathy and actively exercise their civic rights, adding that citizens should not stay away from the polls, sell votes, or believe that votes do not count as these emanate from voter apathy.

Ojukwu lamented that democracy dies when citizens withdraw and remain silent. He emphasized that the Permanent Voter’s Card remains the power of the people to choose desired leaders.

He therefore urged citizens to come out, vote and make votes count, describing the choice of leaders as both a right and a duty to Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary who is also the President of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa, NNHRI-WA, called on the Federal Government, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and all security agencies to ensure a level playing field for all.

He further stated  that government must guarantee the safety of voters, journalists, observers, human rights defenders and the citizens at large.

“Anyone regardless of status or party affiliation, who attempts to make the polity unbearable, who sponsors violence, vote-buying, voter suppression, or attacks on democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 General Elections, must be promptly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law, adding that impunity remains the greatest threat to democracy,” he said.

Ojukwu called for commitment to a democracy that delivers not just elections, but justice, equality, and human rights for all.