NHRC SAYS NIGERIA's ELECTION VIOLENCE TAKES 58 LIVES IN 60 DAYS

Chairman, governing council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu today revealed that 58 Nigerians lost their lives in election violence through out the states of the federation between December 3, 2014 and January 31, 2015.

In an 80-page pre-election report and advisory on violence in Nigeria’s 2015 general elections‎, Odinkalu while  giving insight into the content of the report insisted that 58 deaths had resulted from 49 election related violence across 22 states in Nigeria.

According to the report, "With 11 incidents resulting in 22 deaths, Lagos topped the list of states with the most devastating record of election-related violence within the period surveyed.

"Kaduna State, which is next, recorded three incidents resulting in nine deaths. Gombe State recorded three incidents resulting in five deaths; Taraba, one incident, four deaths; Ogun two incidents, four deaths; Bayelsa, once incident, three deaths; Akwa Ibom, two incidents, three deaths; and Kano, two incidents, two deaths."

The report equally suggested that, "The South-West geo-political zone ‎has recorded the highest number of 28 deaths resulting from election-related violence within the same period.

"It is followed by North-West, with 11 deaths; North-East, nine deaths; South-South, eight deaths; and South-East, two deaths.‎ Thousands were injured across all the six geo-political zones within the period."

While lamenting on the level of losses which had arisen from election violence in Nigeria, Professor Odinkalu charged Nigerians to stop further tarnishing of the name of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Odinkalu said, "Let’s stop tarnishing INEC. The political parties, citizens, social media people should stop it.‎ Tarnishing INEC can guarantee electoral violence. There are few Nigerians, who will accept INEC Chairmanship and bring in the level of integrity he (Jega) has brought to the job.
 
"He (Jega) is a human being. He is not perfect. But, you know what? He has a wife, he’s got children, he’s got grandchildren, he’s got students, who went through him and he is a decent man. He is not a thief, he is not a rogue. He wants to do the best work he can and we’ve got to support him. And we don’t support him alone, we should support his team."

Photo: Vanguard