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THE National Human Right Commission (NHRC) is worried about the safety of lives and property in Lagos, Rivers and Kaduna states as the general elections approach.
The commission's concern was strengthened by post-election violence in the affected states in 2011, in which lives were loss and property destroyed.
NHRC Chairman Prof. Chidi Odinkalu said this at the weekend at Sir Kashim House, Kaduna, when he parleyed with political stakeholders ahead of the rescheduled polls.
Those that attended the event include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, senior officers of Kaduna State Police Command, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and his Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) counterpart, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.
Prof. Odinkalu noted that the Sheikh  Ahmed Lemu's panel report showed that over 1,000 persons lost their lives in 2011 with Kaduna State recording the highest casualties of about 847.
He added that the commission had so far received about 25 petitions alleging acts of violence during the party primaries and political campaigns, a situation he said was worrisome.
The commission chairman added that the message was the same in all the places and people visited.
He warned: "We want election to be peaceful. But if the parties and relevant authorities don't provide an enabling environment for a peaceful election, we will press charges and demand accountability.
"Hate speeches have become intolerable and must be condemned by all. As far as we are concern in the commission, the only winner we are interested in is Nigeria. Politics of do-or-die must be avoided.
"Our major concern states ahead of the elections are Lagos, Rivers and Kaduna states."
But, Yero assured the NHRC boss of the state's readiness to forestall a repeat of the 2011 post-election experience in the general elections.
The governor, who said power belongs to God and gives it to whoever he pleases at his own time, stressed: "In Kaduna State, we don't have opposition, but people who are bent on taking power at all means by all cost; desperate  ill-motive people who want   to take power by all means. They are not fighting us, but God.
"What they do is only to instigate violence and threaten people. That is why the two peace accords signed in the state have not worked so far."
The APC governorship candidate told the NHRC delegation that there was the need to have a review of the peace accord.
"If the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) card readers are used during the election, it will be peaceful.
"My prayers are that the Chairman of INEC is not removed, PVC and card readers are used for the election and that all electoral offenders should be prosecuted," El-Rufai said.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kaduna State, Hussaini Ahmed Mahuta and Police Commissioner Umar Shehu assured of their readiness to ensure a peaceful general elections.
The  REC said: "INEC has made and still making tremendous efforts towards ensuring that the general elections is free, fair and credible, and to also ensure that nobody is deliberately disenfranchised."

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