Amnesty International urges security agencies to act to check unguarded utterances by politicians

By Johnson Arua

Amnesty International, AI, has urged Nigeria security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities and act to check unguarded statements by Nigerian politicians.

In a statement posted on its verified Facebook page, AI said "Nigeria’s security agencies are failing in their responsibilities, as some politicians continue to publicly threaten violence ahead of 2027 elections, in utter disregard for the rule of law and the nation’s Electoral Act. 

"The Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, was quoted threatening 'to invoke the 'power of AK-47' against anyone plotting to thwart the party’s plan to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.'

"Tenebe made the threat during a campaign rally in Edo state where political violence is already rampant. Clearly, Jarret Tenebe is a danger to democracy and rule of law and must be held to account.

"Ahead of 2027 elections and beyond, it is essential that the Nigerian authorities ensure that any politician or other leaders, of any political party or grouping, responsible for carrying out or inciting or threatening politically, religiously or ethnically-motivated violence or human rights abuses must be held to account."