The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to hold state governors, their deputies, and others to account over cases of electoral violence, bribery, vote-buying, and conspiracy during the 2023 general elections.
According to a statement issued by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday, the court ordered INEC to ensure “the appointment of independent counsel to investigate cases of electoral violence and other electoral offences against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 general elections.”
Justice Obiora Egwuatu also ordered INEC “to promptly, thoroughly and effectively investigate cases of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the 2023 general elections and to identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors and ensure their effective prosecution.”
In his judgment, Justice Egwuatu held that, “I have compassionately evaluated the depositions in the affidavit of SERAP and I have no reason not to believe the depositions more so when there are documentary evidence in support of the depositions.”
He also stated that, “In the circumstances therefore, I find merit in the application. The sole issue of whether this Court ought to grant the relief of judicial review and orders of mandamus is resolved in favour of SERAP. Accordingly, I grant the prayers sought.”
The judgment, dated 18 July, 2024, read in part, “Being citizens of this great country, SERAP and its members have the legal interest whose enjoyment or enforcement directly or substantially depends on the performance of public duty by INEC.
“In requesting the performance of the public duty imposed on the electoral body, SERAP has demonstrated a great zeal of patriotism.”
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said, “This ground-breaking judgment is an important milestone for Nigerians’ right to free and fair elections, and for victims of electoral offences in their search for justice, truth and reparations for the crimes which took place during the 2023 general elections.”
He urged INEC to immediately obey the court orders, adding that the effective enforcement of Justice Egwuatu’s judgment will break with decades of impunity for electoral offences in Nigeria.
