Director North Central Zone of Civil Liberty Organizations (CLO), Steve Aluko, has cautioned against smear campaign against the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, over the just concluded general elections.
Tanko served in Nasarawa State as the State Returning Officer in both the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections as well as the March 18 Gubernatorial and State Assembly Elections.
But after the results of the March 18 elections were announced, there have been several allegations against him including alleged compromise.
In his reaction, Aluko warned those spreading falsehood against the VC to desist, saying such could be tantamount to defamation of character, which could trigger law suit.
Aluko, who spoke with newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital, said voters and aggrieved persons in the just concluded elections have the right to protest against any perceived injustice and as well as the right to seek redress in court, but that smear campaign against anyone without evidence should be checked to avoid unnecessary tensions.
The Director reiterated that the Nigerian constitution upholds freedom of speech and protests, but peddling rumours on social media without any genuine evidence is not only unacceptable, but that it is a cyber crime that is punishable under the law.
He called on anyone who is aggrieved in the whole process to seek proper and acceptable way to ventilate their grievances, stressing that care should be taking not to run fowl of the law in the process of self expression or unconfirmed information.
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