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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over failure to arrest and prosecute suspected perpetrators of grave electoral offences in the recently concluded off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
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In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1694/2023, filed at the weekend, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to probe allegations of electoral offences, including electoral violence, in the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
The organisation is seeking 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.
The body is also arguing that the recurring cases of electoral bribery and violence make a mockery of Nigeria’s electoral process and participatory democracy.
In the suit, filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, the organisation said INEC has the constitutional and statutory duties to ensure accountability for electoral offences in the country, and to guarantee the effective enjoyment of the citizens’ rights to vote in future elections.
It noted that allegations of electoral offences during the off-cycle governorship elections in the three states are contrary to the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, and international standards.No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
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