SERAP embarks on legal war over INEC’s failure to prosecute electoral offenders in Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over its alleged refusal to arrest and prosecute suspected perpetrators of electoral offences in the recently concluded off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.

In its suit designated FHC/ABJ/CS/1694/2023, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP, is asking for an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to probe the allegations of electoral offences including electoral violence, in the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.

SERAP equally wants “An order of mandamus to compel INEC to promptly and effectively prosecute suspected perpetrators of these grave electoral offences, and bring to justice, anyone who sponsored, aided and abetted them.

“An order of mandamus to compel INEC to disclose spending details on the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states, including the specific amount spent to conduct voter and civic education and details of the activities carried out in the three states.”

According to the legal action, SERAP argued that “There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring accountability for the grave electoral offences in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states. 

“Granting the reliefs sought would compel INEC to live up to its constitutional and statutory responsibilities and end the impunity of electoral offenders.

“The recurring cases of electoral bribery and violence make a mockery of Nigeria’s electoral process and participatory democracy. 

“The electoral offences in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states show that INEC has learnt little or nothing from the well-documented problems during the 2023 general elections.”

In insisting that unless INEC is compelled to arrest and prosecute suspected electoral offenders and their sponsors in the elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states, SERAP stated that perpetrators would continue to enjoy impunity for their crimes.

As of the time of filing this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

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