Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a stark warning to the Federal Government, invoking the tragic memory of the 1994 Rwandan genocide to highlight the catastrophic dangers of uncurbed hate speech.

Addressing journalists at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, revealed that the rights body has officially petitioned top security and judicial heads to demand the immediate investigation, arrest, and prosecution of Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East) and prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Jingir, over alleged inflammatory and divisive remarks.

The petition was forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Chief Ojukwu emphasized that while the NHRC possesses the mandate to monitor and issue early warnings, the constitutional power to prosecute crimes lies solely with the police and the AGF. He urged these institutions to act decisively before political rhetoric plunges the country into chaos.

"We understand that Senator Fadahunsi has already been invited by the police, and we want them to invite Sheikh Jingir as well," Ojukwu stated. "No one is above the law. Failure to take action to rein in this sort of rhetoric will open the floodgates for others, and no one knows where that will land us before the elections."

The NHRC boss linked unchecked inflammatory rhetoric to ongoing instability, noting that multiple lives have already been lost to violence in Osun State. He warned that ignoring these early indicators would send a dangerous signal of impunity ahead of the 2027 polls.

To actively combat the threat, the NHRC unveiled a state-of-the-art situation room specifically equipped for citizens to report real-time incidents of hate speech, voter intimidation, and election-related hostility. Ojukwu reiterated that the 2027 elections must serve to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy rather than trigger deep national division.

The Commission’s charter places significant responsibility on the media to reject sensationalism, urging journalists to avoid amplifying unverified, harmful statements. Simultaneously, social media users are directed to verify information to prevent the escalation of ethnic or religious hostility. Read the full six-point charter on the official commission website.