[Mhiz Rebecca]

THE National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the
Federal Government to prosecute individuals and groups involved
electoral violence in last Saturday’s legislative re-run election in
Rivers State.
The Acting executive secretary of the Commission, Mrs Oti
Ovrawah, made the call, while reacting to the recent report of
killings and other acts of repressive violence that trailed the
elections.
She urged the Federal Government to take bold steps against
electoral accountability by ensuring the arrest and prosecution of
all perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others.
The acting HRSC said the Commission, particularly condemned
the killings that took place during the election, adding that such
violence dishonoured peaceful coexistence.
Ovrawah stated further that the rights to life remained a crucial
foundation of all human rights and should not be undermined
under any circumstance.
She also said that the professionalism and performance of security
agencies in safeguarding any electoral process deserved particular
attention.
Ovrawah who is for the second time acting executive secretary of
the commission said the body would continue to work with
relevant stakeholders to ensure effective investigation and
accountability for all crimes of election-related violence.