The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on Sunday urged the newly nominated Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to prioritise and ensure the effective prosecution of politicians and their sponsors suspected of committing electoral offences such as violence, bribery, vote-buying, conspiracy, and undue influence during general and off-cycle elections since 2015.
In a letter signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and obtained by Channels Television on Sunday, the organisation emphasised that impunity for electoral offences remains a significant obstacle to free and fair elections in Nigeria.
“Mr Amupitan must show that INEC, under his leadership, will not tolerate electoral crimes,” the letter dated 11 October stated. “Unless the culture of impunity for these grave offences is addressed and perpetrators—particularly high-ranking politicians and their sponsors—are brought to justice, those planning future violations will feel emboldened.”
SERAP lamented that elections in Nigeria since 2015 have been marred by violence and various infractions. The group urged Professor Amupitan to ensure that any reform of the Electoral Act provides for the timely prosecution of electoral offences and guarantees voters access to justice and effective remedies for violations of their fundamental rights.
“The general and off-cycle elections held since 2015 have been plagued by serious offences, including violence, bribery, vote-buying, conspiracy, and undue influence, undermining INEC’s credibility,” the letter noted. “High-ranking politicians and their sponsors rarely face justice for these crimes, reinforcing a culture of impunity that threatens Nigeria’s democracy.”
SERAP added that a fair electoral process is impossible if the commission fails to ensure proper investigation and prosecution of electoral offences. “No right is more precious in a democracy than the right to choose one’s leaders. Other rights become meaningless if electoral crimes remain unaddressed and voters lack access to justice,” it said.
The organisation called on Professor Amupitan to prioritise amending the Electoral Act 2022 to ensure that the 2027 elections are free, fair, and consistent with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Nigeria’s international obligations.
President Bola Tinubu recently nominated Professor Amupitan as the new INEC Chairman. The Senate is expected to confirm his appointment following the exit of Mahmood Yakubu, who stepped down shortly before the end of his second five-year term.