SERAP sues INEC over ‘failure’ to probe politicians who incited election violence 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the alleged failure to investigate and probe electoral offenders in the 2023 general election.

In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2023 and filed at the federal high court in Abuja on Friday by Kolawole Oluwadare, Andrew Nwankwo and Blessing Ogwuche, SERAP wants the electoral umpire to be compelled to appoint an independent counsel to investigate and prosecute allegations of electoral offences against politicians, including governors and their deputies.

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 group said the investigation and prosecution of culpable politicians will end the impunity of perpetrators and advance Nigerians’ right to freely participate in the democratic process.

“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,” the suit reads.

“Election violence is inconsistent and incompatible with the principles of democracy, the rule of law, transparency and accountability for politicians to allegedly use violence to disrupt the electoral process.

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

“When politicians and their sponsors decide to engage in electoral violence and other electoral offences rather than contest fairly for people’s votes, there are possibilities that such politicians will show a disregard for democratic rules and a disposition to adopt illegal means becomes inevitable.

“Ending impunity for electoral violence and other electoral offences would promote accountability of suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, ensure justice for victims, and ultimately advance the people’s right to vote as well as bolster voter confidence in the electoral process.

“In several states, political thugs, apparently with the support of law enforcement officials, disrupted and sent back voters intending to vote for opposition parties. Party agents were reported to be directing people who to vote for while those unwilling to do as directed were denied ballot papers and forced to leave the polling units.”

The suit is yet to be scheduled for a hearing.