SERAP sues INEC over poll offenders

Forum 1 year ago

SERAP sues INEC over poll offenders

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission to court over “the failure to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences, including bribery, against some state governors and their deputies during the 2023 elections.”

The suit followed reports of voter suppression, voter intimidation and the destruction or theft of election materials by political party agents and thugs across the six geopolitical zones, during the recently concluded general elections.

In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2023 and filed on Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP asked the court for “an order of mandamus compelling INEC to seek the appointment of independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral offences against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 elections.”

SERAP also asked for “an order of mandamus compelling INEC to promptly, thoroughly and effectively investigate reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the elections, identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure their effective prosecution.”

The organisation also asked for “an order of mandamus directing and compelling INEC to prosecute all arrested electoral offenders in the 2023 general elections in the custody of law enforcement and anticorruption agencies.”

In the suit, SERAP argued 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.”

The organisation also argued that “identifying, arresting, investigating and prosecuting any politicians and their sponsors suspected to be responsible for electoral offences during the elections would end the impunity of perpetrators. It would also advance Nigerians’ right to freely participate in their own government.”

SERAP also argued that “addressing the brazen impunity and reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general elections would also send a strong message to politicians that they would be held to account for any infringement of the electoral process.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.