NHRC: Nigeria recorded 88 election-linked deaths in March

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says the country recorded 88 deaths linked to the electoral process during the just concluded gubernatorial polls. 

Hilary Ogbonna, the coordinator of mobilising voters for election at the NHRC, said 75 facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also attacked during the polls.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Ogbonna said there were 130 attacks by unknown gunmen and bandits while six law enforcement agents were also killed.

Ogbonna said 22 incidents of hate speeches were recorded during the election noting that the commission has commenced investigations into all the inciting comments.

“We recorded the loss of 88 lives directly linked to the election,” he said.

“Generally, in terms of voter intimidation and impression, the south-west recorded the highest of 75, followed by the north-central, south-south, and north-east.

“The NHRC has launched investigations on hate speech committed before, during, and after the elections

“The rights to freedom of association were violated in Ebonyi and Lagos, right to dignity of the human person in Lagos, Edo, Delta, Benue.

“The right to participation was also violated in Lagos, Oyo, Rivers while voting-related killings were recorded in Ebonyi, Kano, Lagos, Borno.”

Nigeria held presidential and gubernatorial elections on February 25 and March 18 respectively.

The elections were reportedly fraught with voter intimidation and electoral violence.

Political parties and politicians have accused the INEC of wrongdoings and are challenging the results in court.