By Our Reporter
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to obey court judgement on cases of bribery against state governors and their deputies and other electoral offences committed during the 2023 general elections.
In a statement by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare on Sunday, the group said it was unacceptable for INEC to take the court, which is the custodian of justice in the country for a ride, adding that the recurring cases of electoral bribery and violence make a mockery of Nigeria’s electoral process and participatory democracy.
Oluwadare made the statement in apparent reference to the just concluded Edo state gubernatorial elections which many alleged was fraught with a lot of electoral offences.
He further maintained that the Edo State election indicate that INEC has learnt very little or nothing from the well-documented problems during the 2023 general elections.
He said that Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Abuja delivered judgment on July 18 following a mandamus lawsuit brought by SERAP.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider pursuing contempt proceedings against you and INEC for your continuing failure to obey the court judgment,” he said.
The human rights group noted that obeying the court judgment would go a long way in protecting the integrity of the electoral and legal systems.
“Recall that Justice Egwuatu had ordered INEC to seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral offences including bribery, vote-buying, conspiracy, and undue influence against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 general elections.