NHRC Boss Tony Ojukwu Urges Serious Look at Peter Obi's Life Threat Claim

Chief Tony Ojukwu, who serves as the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has labeled the assertion by Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), that his life is in danger as “very worrisome” and something that demands serious attention. During an interview with ARISE NEWS, Ojukwu conveyed the Commission's apprehension regarding the condition of Nigeria's civic space, especially with future elections on the horizon. He emphasized that all political aspirants must be allowed to conduct their campaigns without fear or harassment.

"The statement made by Peter Obi is a very worrisome statement. And for every person who means well for this country, we should take it seriously," Ojukwu stated. He further added, "The issue of opposition being able to have space to do their beat is a legitimate right. And there’s a general issue about freedom of information and the civic space being shrinking, especially as elections are coming close."

Ojukwu clarified that while the NHRC is not bound to await a formal complaint before addressing fundamental rights issues, its immediate course of action following Obi's public declaration would be to release an advisory. This advisory would urge the government and other political stakeholders to foster an environment conducive for all participants. "We don’t have to wait until a formal complaint is lodged. So, what we want to do is we need to now issue an advisory, going forward, on what the government and everybody should do so that every contestant will have a feeling that they have the space to do their beat properly," he explained.

However, Ojukwu pointed out that a full investigation into Obi's allegations would necessitate more specific details from the former Anambra State governor, as Obi had made a public statement rather than formally reporting the matter to the Commission. He elaborated, "A statement of that magnitude does not automatically trigger an investigative reaction from the National Human Rights Commission. It is difficult to investigate a matter like this because he has made that statement, and you simply can’t turn around and put a gun to their heads. It’s difficult because we don’t also know, if we invite Obi to come and give specifics of the allegation." He reiterated that the NHRC's typical response in such cases is to issue an advisory to both the government and political players on ensuring an open space for political activities.

Regarding the alleged assault of Godspower Okedi in Delta State over a Facebook post, Chief Ojukwu mentioned that the NHRC did not immediately release a public statement. Instead, it instructed its Delta State office to investigate the incident. He confirmed that should the investigation reveal human rights violations, the Commission would recommend prosecution and actively monitor the judicial process. "We have Standard Operating Procedures. We don’t behave like civil society groups. We have a standard of practice. For instance, immediately this happened, we have sent an office—we have sent a directive to our office there in Delta State to go investigate and give us a report. Once that report comes now, then we act on the report and we can make a statement. Once the report is positive, then we will request that the Commissioner of Police in that state must prosecute this case. And we’ll follow it through to go to court, and make sure prosecution is recommended," he assured.

Acknowledging a noticeable contraction of the civic space in Nigeria, Ojukwu revealed that the Commission's monitoring dashboard indicates increasing pressure on freedom of expression. He highlighted the NHRC's efforts, which include issuing advisories, opposing restrictive legislation, developing protocols for investigating attacks on journalists, and advocating for public officials to pursue legal avenues rather than using political influence to silence critics. "Of course, that is the picture we are seeing. If you look at our dashboard, that is the picture that is coming. And that is why we instituted this dashboard. Because the dashboard is an accountability mechanism to call out the people who are involved to take necessary action," he noted.

He further commented on the expanded civic space brought by social media, which allows for widespread publishing, but also the difficulty in regulating such content. Ojukwu cited the NHRC's advisory on the civic space, efforts to address attacks on journalists, and participation in court cases to defend journalists' rights. He also mentioned successful interventions in the National Assembly to prevent the passage of laws that would further restrict civil liberties. "Also, if you disagree with anybody’s publication, take him to court! You have your day in court. The strategy or the solution is not to use political power to prevent people from expressing themselves. That shouldn’t be the case," he emphasized.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, Ojukwu cautioned that mounting political tensions could lead to voter apathy, deterring Nigerians from engaging in the democratic process. "The apathy it is going to generate. Because if you ask most people on the streets now about their voter’s card, they are not interested. Because of the tension. So, it is going to discourage people from participating in the process. That’s what’s going to happen at the end of the day. And you know what that means: if people don’t participate, the few that participate will now decide for the rest of all of us," he warned.

He appealed to political stakeholders to de-escalate political rhetoric, respect the rights of their opponents, and protect the civic space. Ojukwu warned that continued intimidation and public discontent could result in unpredictable outcomes. "My advice to politicians: please, cool down the temperature. Respect the right of others, respect the right of your colleagues. For the government in power, also allow the civic space to thrive, because it will also help you in your own credibility. I urge all politicians to please, in the interest of saving this country, to play it down and allow a free space for everybody to feel free in his fatherland," he advised.

Discussing the Commission’s Human Rights Situation Dashboard, Ojukwu described the volume of complaints as "really worrisome." He attributed this to both increased public awareness of human rights and Nigeria's deteriorating security situation. "The situation on violations is really worrisome. There are two main possibilities for these numbers. One, the Commission has created a lot of awareness about rights. What we are seeing is that people now know when their rights are violated, and they know that they can go somewhere and report it. In addition to that, of course, the security situation is staring everybody in the face," he shared.

While affirming that documenting abuses is a core responsibility of the NHRC, he noted that the Commission also strives to provide remedies, though its reach is limited by resource constraints. "A body like the National Human Rights Commission has some duties. First of all, we have to document. Because if you don’t document this, probably nobody will know things like this are happening. The other one is to try and find a remedy as much as possible. However, the ability to find a remedy will also depend on the resources you have," Ojukwu concluded.