Emmanuel OchayiSocio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has escalated its battle for electoral integrity by filing a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks to address the failure to arrest and prosecute suspected perpetrators of grave electoral offenses during off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states.
SERAP, represented by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, demands an urgent probe into allegations of electoral violence and malpractices. They emphasize the necessity for INEC to fulfill its mandate and end the impunity of electoral offenders.
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In the lawsuit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1694/2023, SERAP seeks an order of mandamus compelling INEC to disclose financial details of the elections, including expenses for voter education. Additionally, they demand prompt and effective prosecution of those involved in the alleged offenses.
Speaking on the suit, SERAP argues that ensuring accountability for electoral offenses is crucial for maintaining public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
They highlight that recurrent cases of bribery and violence undermine the essence of participatory democracy and erode confidence in governance institutions.
According to SERAP’s statement in the suit, failure to arrest and prosecute suspected electoral offenders in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states perpetuates a culture of impunity, which threatens the democratic rights of Nigerian citizens.
The organization stresses that revealing spending details is in the public interest, ensuring transparency in the electoral process.
The lawsuit outlines specific incidents of malpractice during the off-cycle governorship elections, including pre-completed result sheets, harassment of journalists, vote-buying, and instances of violence across the three states.
These incidents, SERAP asserts, exemplify the urgent need for accountability and transparent action by INEC to preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
No date has been set for the hearing of the suit, which seeks to address systemic issues within Nigeria’s electoral process and uphold the fundamental rights of citizens to fair and credible elections.
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