SERAP Urges New INEC Chairman Amupitan To Prioritise Prosecution Of Electoral Offenders

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to make the prosecution of electoral offences a central focus of his tenure.

In a statement issued on Sunday, SERAP urged Amupitan to demonstrate his commitment to credible elections by ensuring that politicians, vote buyers, and sponsors of electoral violence are held accountable under the law.

The rights group noted that the culture of impunity surrounding electoral crimes has weakened public trust in Nigeria’s democracy and continues to undermine the credibility of the nation’s elections.

“Professor Amupitan must prioritise ending the impunity for electoral offences and strengthen mechanisms for effective investigation and prosecution of those responsible for electoral bribery, violence, vote-buying, and undue influence,” SERAP stated.

The organisation also urged the new INEC boss to push for reforms of the Electoral Act 2022 to include stricter provisions for the timely prosecution of offenders and ensure that voters have access to justice and effective remedies when their rights are violated during elections.

SERAP reminded INEC that a Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier directed the Commission to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of electoral offences during the 2023 general elections a judgment that has yet to be fully implemented.

It further warned that continued failure to enforce electoral laws would embolden political actors to commit crimes without consequence, thereby eroding the integrity of future elections, including those scheduled for 2027.

“The credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process depends largely on accountability. Without justice for electoral offences, the nation cannot make progress toward free and fair elections,” SERAP added.

Professor Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Dean of Law at the University of Jos, was recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu to lead INEC following the expiration of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure.

His appointment has drawn widespread attention, with stakeholders urging him to restore public confidence in the electoral process and ensure that the Commission operates with independence, transparency, and integrity.