Nigeria: 2027 - NHRC Raises Alarm Over Arrests, Intimidation, Electoral Impunity

What the report says

Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has warned that rising harassment, arbitrary arrests, political intimidation and weak accountability for election-related offences could jeopardize the credibility of the 2027 general elections. The concern was raised in Abuja at the 2026 Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders Forum on the state of human rights, held with the European Union, where NHRC Executive Secretary Anthony Ojukwu said the political environment must be protected before voting begins.

According to the report from Leadership, Ojukwu said threats to civil society groups, journalists and human rights defenders, along with hate speech, voter intimidation and limits on political participation, could discourage public involvement in the polls. He also cautioned that misuse of laws, including cybercrime provisions, may be used to curb legitimate civic activity. The NHRC said its election monitoring plans include a Human Rights Situation Dashboard, a Human Rights Observatory and an Election Situation Room, plus monthly bulletins and hotspot monitoring.

The commission said its September 2026 dashboard recorded 338,810 human rights complaints nationwide, while its observatory documented killings and kidnappings during the period. It also reported completed investigations and detention-facility monitoring visits. Independent National Electoral Commission chair Joash Amupitan, represented at the forum, said credible elections depend not only on voting procedures but also on protecting freedoms of expression, association and participation. The European Union ambassador and the Inter-Party Advisory Council also urged protection of civic space and rejection of electoral violence.