National Human Rights Commission, an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, has released a report detailing incidents of voter suppression and other human rights violations during the 2023 general election. The report identifies Lagos, Rivers, Imo, Ebonyi, and Bayelsa as states where the commission documented cases of voter suppression. The report also notes 22 incidents of hate speech during the elections.

The project, organised in collaboration with the United Nations Human Rights Resident in Nigeria, Ford Foundation, and the Legal Defence and Assistance Project, was initiated to tackle voter apathy.

According to the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, investigations have been launched into hate speech committed before, during, and after the elections.

During the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25, and the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections on March 18, 2023, the NHRC recorded multiple human rights violations. These included violations of the right to freedom of association in Ebonyi and Lagos, the right to dignity of human person in Lagos, Edo, Delta, and Benue, and violations of the right to participation in Lagos, Oyo, and Rivers.

NHRC also recorded voting-related killings in Ebonyi, Kano, Lagos, and Borno.

The report further states that there were two bomb attacks in Kaduna and Benue during the March elections and that 75 facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission were attacked. Additionally, three reports of political intolerance and six cases of law enforcement agents being killed were recorded.

The NHRC report highlights the need to address these human rights violations and ensure that future elections in Nigeria are conducted in a peaceful, free, fair, and transparent manner.