(New York, July 10, 1998) - Human Rights Watch wrote to General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Nigerian head of state, urging him to release all remaining political prisoners immediately, and take steps to return Nigeria to rule by a genuinely elected civilian government.
The confidence-building measures General Abubakar has taken so far are encouraging, but we'd like to see democratization move forward more quickly," said Peter Takirambudde, executive director of the Africa division. In addition to releasing political prisoners, Human Rights Watch called on General Abubakar to repeal repressive decrees, ensure freedom of the press and broadcast media, and put in place measures to ensure that elections to a new government are free and fair. Those measures should include the appointment of a genuinely independent electoral commission, implementation of an open and fair process for registration of political parties and adoption of candidates, and freedom in practice for all political parties or candidates to organize, hold meetings, campaign and canvass support from voters.
