Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its alleged failure to apprehend and prosecute suspected electoral offenders during the governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states.
The organization disclosed this information in a press release issued on Sunday.The lawsuit, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1694/2023, was officially filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the filing, SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to investigate the allegations of electoral offenses, including electoral violence, in the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states.”
Additionally, SERAP is pursuing “an order of mandamus to compel INEC to disclose spending details on the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa States, including the specific amount spent on conducting voter and civic education, and details of the activities carried out in the three states.”
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The organization argued that there exists a legitimate public interest in holding accountable those responsible for serious electoral offenses in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states. They contend that granting these reliefs would compel INEC to fulfill its constitutional and statutory responsibilities and put an end to the impunity of electoral offenders.
SERAP pointed out that the persistent incidents of electoral bribery and violence undermine Nigeria’s electoral process and participatory democracy. They stressed the necessity of compelling INEC to take action against suspected electoral offenders and their sponsors to prevent the continued enjoyment of impunity for their crimes in the mentioned elections.