In the newly released report titled: “2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria”, by U.S. Department of State, it enumerated the abuse of fundamental human rights in Nigeria including the election of 2023 marred with suppression of votes, intimidation, irregularities and violent incidents.
In the section 3 of United States Report titled, Freedom to Participate in the Political Process ( ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION) it stated in details how APC supporters during the March 2023 governorship election prevented, intimidated and suppressed Igbo voters from voting.
It reads: “During the March 18 state election in Lagos, All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters reportedly intimidated and suppressed voters in Igbo-dominated areas, which Labour Party presidential candidate and ethnically Igbo Peter Obi won in the February 25 national election. Viral videos on social media showed APC supporters in Ojo threatening to attack ethnic Igbo voters presumed to be pro-Obi. In Eti-Osa, APC supporters also attacked journalists and, in some cases, shut down voting and prevented non-Yoruba voters from accessing polls. They similarly destroyed property and physically blocked voters in Amuwo-Odofin. According to videos posted on social media, police officers were present but failed to respond to attacks. There was no evidence that alleged perpetrators were arrested or prosecuted.”
On the Participation of Women and Members of Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups, it reported: “The national average of women’s political participation in Nigeria was 6.7 percent in elected and appointed positions. Civil society organization observers noted religious, cultural, and economic barriers contributed to fewer leadership opportunities for women in major parties and government. A gender-based violence survey of the 2023 elections conducted by the NGO ElectHER said religious and cultural barriers such as double standards, blackmailing, and media smear campaigns were actively used against women politicians. Media outlets stereotyped women politicians as “promiscuous” or “cunning” and in some cases refused to cover their campaigns allegedly on the orders of opposition officials and candidates.”
FOR FURTHER READING; 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria
Leave a Reply