June 12: Ojukwu Insists Credible Elections Are a Fundamental Human Right, Not a Privilege
By Core Reporters
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), has stated that the Commission commemorates June 12 as a reminder that credible elections are a fundamental human right and not a privilege.
Ojukwu made this assertion in his Democracy Day message issued on Friday, June 12, 2026.
According to a statement signed by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages at the NHRC, Ojukwu noted that the June 12, 1993 presidential election remains Nigeria’s clearest proof that free, fair, and transparent elections are achievable when institutions respect the will of the people.
He recalled that the Option A4 and Modified Open Ballot System introduced by demonstrated that electoral integrity could be achieved through the sincerity of electoral management bodies, transparency, and strict adherence to the law.
The NHRC boss stressed that the right to participate in government through free and fair elections is guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
He stated that voter suppression, vote-buying, electoral violence, and result manipulation are not merely procedural shortcomings but direct violations of citizens’ civil and political rights.
Ojukwu expressed concern that, more than three decades after the historic June 12 election, such violations continue to undermine public trust, weaken accountability, and erode the dignity of Nigerian voters.
He further noted that when elections lack integrity, fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, association, participation, and peaceful assembly are also threatened.
The Executive Secretary called on the (INEC), political parties, security agencies, the judiciary, civil society organisations, and the media to uphold neutrality, transparency, and accountability in the electoral process.
He affirmed that the NHRC would intensify its monitoring of electoral processes, document violations, and pursue remedies for victims in line with its statutory mandate.
Ojukwu also urged the National Assembly to strengthen laws that safeguard electoral independence and ensure access to justice.
He concluded that institutionalising electoral integrity is essential to guaranteeing the right to free and fair elections in Nigeria, adding that the NHRC stands ready to work with government and all stakeholders to make credible elections a lived reality for every citizen.
