The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Professor Joash Amupitan, the newly nominated chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to make accountability for electoral offences his top priority.
In a letter dated 11 October 2025 and signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged Amupitan to ensure the prosecution of politicians and their sponsors linked to electoral crimes such as vote-buying, bribery, violence, and undue influence during general and off-cycle elections since 2015.
SERAP also asked him to spearhead reforms to the Electoral Act 2022, including provisions for swift prosecution of offenders and better access to justice for voters whose rights were violated.
President Bola Tinubu nominated Amupitan last week to replace Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure as INEC chair ended weeks before its official expiration.
According to SERAP, Nigeria’s electoral process has been marred by widespread impunity. “High-ranking politicians and their sponsors are rarely brought to justice,” the group said, warning that the failure to prosecute offenders “makes a mockery of INEC and undermines democracy.”
The rights group insisted that without accountability, Nigeria’s 2027 general elections risk being compromised. It stressed that ending impunity for electoral crimes would help restore public confidence and strengthen democracy.
SERAP cited both the Nigerian Constitution and international treaties such as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which guarantee the right of citizens to participate freely in choosing their leaders.
The group added that it would consider legal action should Amupitan and INEC fail to act on its recommendations once confirmed by the Senate.
“The credibility of the 2027 elections depends on ending impunity and ensuring justice for electoral offences,” SERAP stated. “Nigerians must have faith that their votes truly count.”
