The Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the newly nominated Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to make the prosecution of electoral offences his top priority once confirmed.
In a letter dated October 11, 2025, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged Amupitan to ensure that those involved in electoral crimes such as vote buying, electoral violence, bribery, conspiracy, and undue influence are prosecuted without delay. SERAP stressed that ending impunity for such crimes was key to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s elections.
According to SERAP, “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 group added that reforms to the Electoral Act 2022 should be prioritised to strengthen the integrity of future elections, particularly those leading up to 2027.
The organisation also urged Amupitan to push for timely prosecution of electoral offenders and ensure that voters have access to justice when their rights are violated. It called for provisions in the Electoral Act that would make investigations and trials of electoral crimes more transparent and independent of political influence.
SERAP further noted that unless politicians and their sponsors who commit electoral offences are prosecuted and punished, “those contemplating electoral crimes will feel unconstrained in future elections.” The group said the new INEC leadership must send a clear signal that the era of electoral impunity is over.
Professor Amupitan, nominated by President Bola Tinubu to replace outgoing INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, is expected to face Senate screening and confirmation soon. SERAP emphasised that Nigerians would be watching to see if he can lead INEC toward credible and transparent elections free from political interference.
