The Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), a civil society organisation, has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
The group also urged President Tinubu to collaborate with the 36 state governors and the National Assembly to establish state police and a national forest guard system as part of efforts to strengthen internal security.
This appeal was made by the Akwa Ibom State Director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, during the organisation’s June 12 Annual Public Lecture held to mark the 2026 Democracy Day, with the theme “The Dangers of Vote Selling in a Democracy.”
Isong expressed concern over recent school abductions in Borno and Oyo States and called for urgent action to secure the release of kidnapped students and teachers.
He said: “The Centre urges the President of the Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to declare a state of emergency in the security situation facing the federation as a matter of urgent public importance.
“CHRAN calls for the overhauling and decentralisation of the security architecture of the federation to give more powers to sub-national governments.”
He also called on citizens to support security agencies, stressing that maintaining security is a collective responsibility.
Isong further criticised the performance of some local government councils in Akwa Ibom State, urging chairmen to prioritise people-oriented development projects.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, he advised politicians to conduct their campaigns with responsibility and decorum, while urging voters to make choices based on conviction rather than inducement.
The keynote speaker, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Enefiok Essien, condemned the growing practice of vote buying, describing it as a serious threat to democracy and good governance.
He said Nigerians must be properly sensitised to reject vote selling, noting that poverty remains a major driver of the practice. He called on government at all levels to diversify the economy and create more jobs to reduce hardship.
Essien also urged security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt stronger measures to curb vote trading, including improved ballot secrecy and restrictions on mobile phone use in voting cubicles to prevent vote-buying evidence capture.
Another speaker, Dr. Udeme Nana, reflected on the 1993 June 12 elections, describing them as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic history marked by credible and largely vote-free participation.
He urged Nigerians to emulate the spirit of that election in future polls, especially the 2027 general elections, recalling how voters defied ethnic and political divisions to freely elect their preferred candidates, even leading to the defeat of sitting governors in some states.
