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NHRC unveils Policy Advisory, identifies Hate Speech as hindrance to peace, unity
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has released a Policy Advisory on the Role of Media in Countering and Reporting Hate Speech.
This is coming, as the Executive Secretary of the Commission; Chief Tony Ojukwu SAN condemned the use of hate speech by individuals and groups against others, communities and religious groups, among others.
Chief Ojukwu said that the destructive consequences of hate speech could only be imagined, adding that it destroys peace, unity and national cohesion.
The NHRC boss, who is also the Chief Human Rights Defender in Nigeria, spoke on Tuesday at a briefing commemorating the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, which was marked on the 18th of June 2023.
The briefing was jointly organised by the National Human Rights Commission and the United Nations in Nigeria which was represented by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mathias Schmali.
According to Ojukwu, “Hate speeches promote discrimination, divisions, incites violence, all of which violate the right to dignity, right to life and belonging to a society.
“Hate speech could, as in recent cases, lead to violation of the right to political participation in the case of elections and political process and impedes voters’ participation and access in the elections.
“Hate speech is a threat to national cohesion, peace, security and the attainment of sustainable development and the achievement of human rights. We need to work together to combat hate speeches in political, social and cultural spheres”.
The NHRC Executive Secretary stressed that the Commission is deeply interested in the issue of hate speech under discussion today, especially in the context of Nigeria’s political, ethnic and religious diversities and heterogeneities.
He cited that “Hate speech is intricately related to human rights, either in its form or outcome. To the person spreading hate speech, it is about right to freedom of expression, opinion, speech or belief.
“To the recipient of hate speech, it is a violation of the rights to dignity of human person and the freedom from discrimination based on religious belief, political, ethnic, gender, cultural or other affiliations, amongst many other human rights.
“In the build up to the elections, we witnessed heavy traffic in the spread of hate speeches across many media platforms, often leaving Nigerians and voters deeply divided and maligned.”
He noted however, that the Commission in the exercise of its mandate, launched the “Mobilising Voters for Election (MOVE)” Project which he said has a broad mandate to promote access, participation and accountability in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
He enumerated some of the steps already taken by the Commission to checkmate hate speeches such as: Setting up of a National Hate Speech Register to record incidences and reports of hate speech from across Nigeria, Training of its staff on Monitoring and Reporting Hate Speech, Setting up Enforcement Mechanisms on Hate Speeches resulting from the electoral process; among others.
The David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the Federal High Court judgement that removed its leadership.
The opposition party also disclosed that it had filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgement pending the hearing and determination of its appeal.
The party made this known in a statement on Friday, November 6, adding that it had formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the legal steps taken,
The appeal is against the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1619/2025, involving Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and the ADC.
The party urged INEC to refrain from taking any further action on the matter until the Court of Appeal has considered the case.
It argued that the application for a stay of execution was yet to be decided and that the electoral commission should not take any step that could affect the outcome of the appeal.
According to the ADC, it expects INEC to respect the ongoing legal process and allow the appellate court to hear the matter before making any decision connected to the judgement.
The statement partly read, “The ADC is exercising its lawful right to appeal. The judgement is now being challenged before a higher court, and the legal process must be allowed to run its course.
“We expect INEC to uphold the law and take full account of the pending proceedings before making any consequential decisions.”
The party also urged its members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the court judgement would not stop its political activities.
It said its campaigns would continue while it explored all available legal options to defend its position.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, declaring the caretaker committee that oversaw the party’s affairs illegal and invalidating all decisions taken by the committee.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, also affects the presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s flag bearer for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s presidential candidate, had already selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
The ruling followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which the David Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate all actions undertaken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Senator Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
In suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the ADC, INEC, Senator David Mark, Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu were listed as defendants.
Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, effectively invalidating the authority of the caretaker committee and decisions taken under its leadership.
The verdict is expected to trigger fresh political uncertainty within the ADC, particularly over Atiku’s presidential ambition and the party’s preparations for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
However, the party has vowed to challenge the judgment at the appellate court.
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