Election Violence: We Will Drag You To Court If…, SERAP Tells INEC

A Lagos-based rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has issued a threat to embark on a legal offensive if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, fails to investigate election violence that took place in the last general elections.

The group also called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to urgently seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences including bribery against any state governors and their deputies during the just concluded general elections.

SERAP in a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, equally asked the INEC boss to “promptly and effectively investigate reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the general elections, and to identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure their effective prosecution, regardless of their political status or affiliations.”

According to a letter dated March 25, 2023, the group posited that: “By allegedly engaging in electoral violence and other electoral offences in so blatant a fashion, suspected perpetrators and their sponsors have clearly acted in violation of constitutional provisions, international standards and the Electoral Act.

“Section 52 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, allows INEC to seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences such as bribery that may have been committed by any state governors and/or their deputies.”

SERAP, which suggested that INEC should promptly collaborate with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and other law enforcement agencies to identify any politicians and their sponsors suspected to be responsible for electoral violence and other electoral offences during the elections, SERAP maintained that "Identifying, arresting, investigating and prosecuting those suspected of perpetrating electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general elections would act as a deterrent against electoral violence in future elections.

“We would be grateful if immediate steps are taken to implement the recommended measures within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.”

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