INEC Denies SERAP’s Accusation of Ignoring Court Order on Electoral Offenders

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted accusations by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) that its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, ignored a court order on prosecuting electoral offenders.

In a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, addressed media reports claiming that SERAP had accused INEC of failing to prosecute electoral offenders from the 2023 General Election.

The accusations by SERAP included claims that INEC neglected to engage independent counsels to prosecute unnamed governors and deputy governors for alleged violations of electoral laws. SERAP also alleged that INEC failed to hire private lawyers to prosecute other electoral offences, such as vote buying.

INEC, however, dismissed these allegations as baseless and unsupported by facts.

INEC responded by highlighting the constitutional immunity granted to sitting governors and deputy governors, which prevents them from prosecution, stressing that SERAP should be aware of this legal provision.

The Commission further clarified that it has no record of any governors or deputy governors being arrested, investigated, or having prima facie cases established against them that would warrant prosecution.

Olumekun noted that after the 2023 General Election, INEC received 215 case files from the Nigeria Police following the arrests and investigations of alleged electoral law violators across the country.

This included 52 cases involving 238 suspects from the Presidential and National Assembly elections, and 163 cases involving 536 suspects from the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

INEC also emphasized that its commitment to prosecuting electoral offenders extends to its own officials, including a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) currently facing prosecution in a High Court in Yola for alleged electoral offences.