Arrests Not Enough, SERAP Tells INEC To Prosecute Electoral Violence Suspects

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, seven days to start prosecuting folks arrested over reported electoral and political violence forward of the 2027 normal elections.

SERAP urged Amupitan to acquire related case information and investigation supplies from the Nigeria Police Force and promptly prosecute suspects the place adequate proof exists below the Electoral Act 2026.

The organisation warned that failing to prosecute perpetrators and sponsors of political violence may encourage additional assaults, deepen impunity and undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.

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SERAP, which made the demand in an open letter dated November 14, 2026, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, mentioned the decision follows a collection of reported assaults on political events, candidates and their supporters throughout the nation.

The newest incident cited by SERAP was the November 12 assault on members and supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at a city corridor assembly in Oregun, Lagos. A journalist, Samuel Adebanjo, was reportedly assaulted, and his gear was seized whereas he coated the occasion.

SERAP known as on INEC to direct its authorized officers or appointed authorized practitioners to evaluate police investigation information and prosecute suspects when the obtainable proof establishes electoral offences.

It additionally urged the Commission to press the police to accentuate investigations into unresolved incidents, establish and arrest different suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ship the related proof to INEC for prosecution.

The organisation additional requested Amupitan to invoke Section 83 of the Electoral Act 2026 to hunt explanations from political events suspected of involvement in, or encouraging, prohibited conduct, and to impose the prescribed fines on events that fail to adjust to lawful directives.

In the letter, SERAP mentioned prosecuting electoral offences was crucial not solely to punish offenders but additionally to discourage future violations and stop political violence from turning into normalised.

It added that INEC had a transparent statutory duty to make sure these accountable have been held accountable, no matter their political affiliations or positions.

“Effective prosecutions would send a clear message that no individual, political party, candidate or group is above the law,” the organisation mentioned.

SERAP expressed concern about what it described as rising incidents of violence, intimidation, threats and assaults on political conferences, candidates, supporters and marketing campaign actions since campaigning for the 2027 elections started on August 19, 2026.

It listed a number of incidents, together with the reported obstruction of the convoy of NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi in Benue State on September 8; assaults on an NDC ward assembly and a separate Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Enugu State on September 12; and the reported assault on the convoy of African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate Herberta Okonofua in Edo State on October 6.

Other incidents included assaults on NDC supporters in the course of the marketing campaign actions of governorship candidate Chinyeaka Ohaa in Enugu State on October 10, which reportedly led to the dying of 1 supporter, and an assault on supporters of Accord governorship candidate Oriyomi Hamzat throughout a procession in Ibadan on October 14, during which one individual was reportedly killed.

SERAP additionally cited the October 22 assault on the convoy of NDC candidate Rollins Offia-Nwali in Ebonyi State, which reportedly left one individual lifeless and three others injured, in addition to the October 30 assault on African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and members of his staff in Ado-Ekiti.

The organisation additionally listed the reported assault on Peter Obi’s convoy in Calabar on November 4; an NDC procession in Asaba on November 7, which reportedly resulted in a single dying and 5 accidents; and the disruption of the social gathering’s city corridor assembly in Lagos on November 12.

According to SERAP, the incidents have resulted in deaths, accidents, property destruction, assaults on journalists and disruption of lawful political actions.

It warned that failing to prosecute these accountable may create an environment of concern, discouraging opposition events from holding conferences, stopping candidates from reaching voters and intimidating journalists as they perform their duties.

“Arrests alone are insufficient to secure accountability or deter further violations. Suspected perpetrators must be investigated and, where the evidence supports prosecution, brought before competent courts,” the organisation mentioned.

It added that those that organise, finance, direct or sponsor political violence should not escape accountability.

Citing the Electoral Act 2026, SERAP argued that INEC had the authorized authority and duty to make sure electoral offences have been prosecuted.

It particularly referred to Section 96(5), which prohibits political events, aspirants, and candidates from retaining, organising, coaching, or equipping people or teams to make use of bodily pressure or coercion to pursue political aims.

According to the organisation, Section 96(6) additionally prohibits political events, aspirants, and candidates from sustaining or utilizing armed non-public safety organisations, vanguards, or different teams to offer safety or help them throughout campaigns, rallies, processions, and elections.

SERAP additionally cited Sections 96(7) and (8), which set out penalties for violations, and Section 97, which prohibits threats of pressure or violence throughout political campaigns to compel assist for or opposition to a political social gathering or candidate.

It additionally pointed to Section 120, which criminalises disorderly conduct meant to disrupt political conferences, in addition to possessing offensive weapons or missiles at such gatherings.

The organisation pressured that these provisions would have little sensible impact if suspects have been arrested however not prosecuted.

Of specific significance, SERAP cited Section 148(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which supplies that the Commission appoints prosecution officers or authorized practitioners.

It argued that whereas the police and different regulation enforcement companies have main duty for felony investigations, arrests, and proof gathering, INEC should take proactive steps to acquire investigation experiences, evaluate the proof, and provoke prosecutions the place adequate grounds exist.

SERAP additionally based mostly its demand on constitutional and worldwide human rights ensures, together with Sections 14(2)(c), 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which deal with widespread participation in authorities and defend freedom of expression, meeting and affiliation.

It additionally cited Section 42, which prohibits discrimination, together with based mostly on political opinion.

The organisation additional referred to Articles 19, 21, 22 and 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, together with related provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which assure political participation, freedom of expression, affiliation and peaceable meeting.

It warned that with out efficient enforcement of electoral legal guidelines, residents might be denied the chance to specific their political beliefs freely, assist candidates of their alternative and take part within the electoral course of with out concern of violence or intimidation.

SERAP additional requested Amupitan to implement its suggestions inside seven days of receiving or publishing the letter, warning it could take applicable authorized motion to compel INEC to fulfil its statutory duties if the Commission didn’t act.