The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Professor Joash Amupitan, President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to make the prosecution of electoral crimes a top priority once confirmed.
In a letter dated October 11, 2025, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the group said impunity for electoral offences had remained a major obstacle to credible elections in Nigeria.
“Impunity for past electoral offences is a major barrier to free and fair elections in Nigeria. Mr Amupitan must demonstrate that INEC under his watch would not tolerate electoral offences in the country’s elections,” the letter read.
SERAP called on the nominee to ensure that politicians and their sponsors who have been involved in offences such as violence, vote-buying, bribery, conspiracy, and undue influence during general and off-cycle elections since 2015 are held accountable.
The organisation noted that Nigeria’s electoral process had been marred by “grave violations” in every election cycle since 2015, lamenting that high-ranking political figures are “rarely brought to justice,” which reinforces a culture of impunity.
“Unless the legacy of impunity for these grave electoral offences is combated and perpetrators effectively prosecuted, those contemplating electoral crimes will feel unconstrained in future elections,” SERAP warned.
The group also called for urgent reforms to the Electoral Act 2022, urging Amupitan to work with the National Assembly to include provisions for the timely prosecution of electoral offences and better access to justice for voters.
“There cannot be a fair electoral process if the body managing elections fails to ensure the effective investigation and prosecution of offences,” the statement added.
SERAP emphasised that the right to vote and be heard is “the cornerstone of democracy,” arguing that other rights become “illusory” if electoral violations go unpunished.
The group further encouraged Amupitan to ensure that the commission strengthens institutional integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections, aligning Nigeria’s electoral system with both constitutional requirements and international obligations.
President Tinubu announced Professor Amupitan’s nomination last week to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who recently stepped down after completing his second five-year term as INEC Chairman. The nominee is currently awaiting Senate confirmation.
