By George Mgbeleke
\nPresident cannot preach peaceful elections while alleged political enforcers operate beyond the reach of the law, says rights group<\/p>\n
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s latest declaration against political violence as an exercise in political rhetoric, insisting that Nigerians will not be deceived by presidential assurances that are unsupported by decisive action against political thuggery, illegal arms possession and the alleged proliferation of private armed groups.<\/p>\n
HURIWA says the President must understand that condemning political violence in a statement is not the same as dismantling the structures, networks and political patronage systems that sustain it.<\/p>\n
Nigerians have heard enough promises about peaceful elections. What the country needs now is evidence that the President is prepared to confront political violence even when those implicated are allegedly connected to powerful political interests.<\/p>\n
The association warns that the 2027 general elections must not become an opportunity for political warlords, armed loyalists and hired thugs to determine who campaigns, who speaks and who exercises the constitutional right to contest for public office.<\/p>\n
President Tinubu’s declaration that political violence will not be tolerated is welcome in principle. However, HURIWA considers it unconvincing without immediate action against individuals and groups repeatedly mentioned in allegations concerning politically motivated armed activities.<\/p>\n
TINUBU MUST CONFRONT THE ALLEGED PRIVATE ARMIES<\/p>\n
HURIWA demands an immediate and transparent investigation into allegations surrounding the possession of firearms and the operations of private armed groups allegedly associated with Dokubo-Asari and Sunday Igboho.<\/p>\n
The association specifically challenges the President to direct the relevant security and regulatory authorities to review all applicable firearms licences, investigate the legality of weapons in their possession and revoke any licences found to have been obtained or retained in violation of the law.<\/p>\n
HURIWA is deeply concerned by allegations that individuals associated with these armed formations could be mobilised as political enforcers in Rivers State, Abuja and parts of the South-West ahead of the 2027 elections.<\/p>\n
These concerns become even more troubling against the backdrop of reported political boasts that the APC intends to win Rivers State by whatever means necessary.<\/p>\n
HURIWA demands to know what those statements mean and whether security agencies have commenced investigations into the individuals making such declarations.<\/p>\n
The association warns that Nigeria must not permit the emergence of political militias under any guise. No individual, political godfather or party leader should possess the capacity to deploy armed men to intimidate opponents and undermine electoral competition.<\/p>\n
If the President is genuinely committed to peaceful elections, he must demonstrate that nobody enjoys immunity from investigation simply because of political connections or proximity to the Presidency.<\/p>\n
STOP TURNING THE NURTW INTO A POLITICAL WAR MACHINE<\/p>\n
HURIWA also demands immediate compliance with the relevant Court of Appeal and National Industrial Court judgments concerning the leadership crisis in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).<\/p>\n
The association insists that the rule of law cannot be selectively applied to ordinary Nigerians while politically influential individuals allegedly disregard judicial pronouncements without consequences.<\/p>\n
The President must ensure that the legally recognised and elected leadership of the union is allowed to assume its rightful position in accordance with the applicable court decisions.<\/p>\n
HURIWA is particularly alarmed by the possibility of transport union structures and motor park networks being exploited as instruments of political intimidation.<\/p>\n
For years, allegations have persisted that some politicians recruit motor park operators, transport union members and other informal groups to disrupt opposition activities, intimidate voters and unleash violence during elections.<\/p>\n
The NURTW must not become a political recruitment centre for electoral violence.<\/p>\n
The President must stop any attempt to use political influence to undermine the autonomy of trade unions or circumvent judicial decisions.<\/p>\n
ALL IS NOT FAIR IN POLITICS: PRESIDENT MUST APOLOGISE<\/p>\n
HURIWA also demands a public apology over the President’s reported assertion that “all is fair in politics”.<\/p>\n
That statement, if accurately reported, is dangerous in a country struggling to contain political intolerance, electoral violence and the growing culture of impunity.<\/p>\n
All is not fair in politics. There are constitutional boundaries, electoral laws and fundamental human rights that must never be sacrificed on the altar of political ambition.<\/p>\n
Political competition is not warfare. Opposition candidates are not enemies of the state, and supporters of rival political parties are not legitimate targets for armed attacks.<\/p>\n
HURIWA insists that every political party and candidate must enjoy unrestricted constitutional freedom to campaign across Nigeria without intimidation, harassment, physical attacks or deliberate disruption.<\/p>\n
No political party should be permitted to deploy armed loyalists to invade campaign venues, attack opponents or frighten citizens into abandoning their political choices.<\/p>\n
WHERE ARE THE ARRESTS OVER THE EKITI ATTACK?<\/p>\n
HURIWA also demands urgent answers over the reported attack on Modupe Maren in Ekiti State.<\/p>\n
The association wants the Nigeria Police Force to explain what investigations have been conducted, who has been identified as a suspect and why those allegedly involved have not been brought to justice.<\/p>\n
The government cannot claim to be confronting political violence while attacks against political actors remain unresolved.<\/p>\n
Every unanswered political attack emboldens perpetrators and reinforces the dangerous perception that political connections can provide protection from prosecution.<\/p>\n
The Inspector-General of Police must ensure that investigations into politically motivated attacks are transparent, professional and free from partisan interference.<\/p>\n
HURIWA: TINUBU MUST PROVE HIS WORDS WITH ACTION<\/p>\n
HURIWA declares that the 2027 elections cannot be secured through presidential speeches, political assurances and carefully worded statements.<\/p>\n
The President must dismantle the atmosphere of impunity by ensuring impartial investigations into allegations of private armies, enforcing firearms regulations, respecting court judgments and prosecuting individuals responsible for political violence.<\/p>\n
Security agencies must also demonstrate that they serve the Nigerian Constitution and not the electoral interests of the ruling party.<\/p>\n
The association warns that the greatest danger to the credibility of the 2027 elections is the possibility that political actors may conclude that violence, intimidation and the deployment of armed loyalists are acceptable routes to electoral victory.<\/p>\n
President Tinubu must prove that his commitment to peaceful elections applies equally to members of the APC and opposition parties.<\/p>\n
He cannot demand peaceful campaigns from opposition politicians while allegations of politically connected violence remain uninvestigated.<\/p>\n
Nigeria is not a private estate belonging to any political party, and its security institutions must never become instruments of partisan warfare.<\/p>\n
HURIWA will not accept presidential declarations as substitutes for constitutional responsibility.<\/p>\n
The President must act now. Nigerians deserve an election in which votes, ideas and the freely expressed will of citizens determine political leadership, not guns, political godfathers and hired enforcers.<\/p>\n
14th November, 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By George Mgbeleke President cannot preach peaceful elections while alleged political enforcers operate beyond the reach of the law, says rights group The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s latest declaration against political violence as an exercise in political rhetoric, insisting that Nigerians will not be deceived by presidential […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11875,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19859"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19860,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19859\/revisions\/19860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}