The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has condemned the statement made by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, threatening the Igbo in the state who may vote against his preferred candidate in the forthcoming April 11 governorship election.
The Situation Room, made up of prominent civil society organisations, said Akiolu’s statement offends the constitutionally guaranteed rights of every citizen to vote for candidates of their choice in elections.
It said the statement also constitutes an electoral offence as it constitutes threats of violence.
In addition, it constitutes hate speech likely to provoke mass crimes in violation of international human rights laws.
The Situation Room called on Akiolu to immediately withdraw his statement, apologise for his hate speech and reiterate his respect for the rights of all Nigerian citizens to freely and democratically express themselves in the state level elections on April 11, 2015.