Prosecute electoral violence suspects or face legal action, SERAP tells INEC

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SERAP has given INEC a seven-day ultimatum to obtain police files and prosecute electoral violence suspects from the 2027 election campaigns or face legal Read More:…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has given the Independent National Electoral Commission seven days to obtain police case files on reported electoral violence and prosecute suspects where sufficient evidence exists.

SERAP asked INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, to obtain investigation materials from the Nigeria Police Force concerning people arrested over reported incidents of electoral and political violence since the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 general elections.

The demands are in a letter dated November 14, 2026, and signed by the NGO’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, according to a statement by Oluwadare on Sunday.

The organisation urged Amupitan to “direct INEC’s legal officers or legal practitioners appointed by the Commission to promptly review the case files and prosecute persons already arrested where the available evidence establishes offences under the Electoral Act 2026.”

It also asked the commission to press the police to intensify investigations, identify and arrest other suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and forward relevant case files and evidence for prosecution.

SERAP’s demand follows reports of several incidents of political violence across the country, including the alleged attack on members and supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress during a town hall meeting in Oregun, Lagos, on November 12.

The organisation also urged INEC to “exercise its powers under section 83 of the Electoral Act 2026 to demand explanations from political parties suspected of involvement in or encouraging prohibited conduct, and impose the prescribed fine on any party that fails to respond or comply with a lawful directive.”

In the letter, SERAP said, “The prosecution of electoral offences is essential not only to punish individual offenders but also to deter future violations and prevent the normalisation of electoral and political violence in the country.”

It added, “INEC has a clear statutory responsibility to prosecute…

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