SERAP Urges New INEC Chair Amupitan To Tackle Electoral Crimes

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the newly nominated chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to make the prosecution of electoral offenders a top priority once he assumes office.

The group made the call in a letter signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, stressing that widespread impunity for electoral crimes has continued to undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s elections since 2015.

According to SERAP, ensuring accountability for electoral offences such as vote-buying, violence, and bribery will be crucial to restoring public confidence in the electoral process. The organisation said INEC under Amupitan must demonstrate its commitment to ending the culture of impunity that has long characterized Nigeria’s political system.

Call for reforms and justice for voters

In the letter dated October 11, SERAP noted that every election cycle since 2015 has been marred by irregularities and criminal acts that have gone unpunished. The group insisted that it is time for INEC to break the pattern by taking decisive action against both politicians and their sponsors found culpable of manipulating the process.

It emphasised that “no right is more precious in a democratic society than that of having a voice in the election of those who govern.” SERAP argued that this right becomes meaningless if electoral offences are not thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, and if voters are denied access to justice and effective remedies for violations of their rights.

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The organisation also advised Amupitan to push for amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 to ensure timely prosecution of electoral offenders and to protect the fundamental rights of voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A legacy of impunity

SERAP described Nigeria’s election landscape as one where high-ranking politicians and their financiers often escape accountability. This failure, it warned, has emboldened future offenders and deepened public distrust in democratic institutions.

It urged the incoming INEC boss to ensure that reforms to the Electoral Act prioritise swift and transparent prosecution mechanisms, and to strengthen collaboration with relevant agencies such as the police, EFCC, and the judiciary to deliver justice without political interference.

Amupitan, who was nominated last week by President Bola Tinubu to replace former INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, is expected to be confirmed by the Senate in the coming days. His appointment comes at a time when Nigerians are increasingly demanding electoral integrity and institutional independence.

SERAP’s appeal adds to a growing chorus from civil society organizations and opposition parties calling for accountability in election management. As Amupitan prepares to assume office, expectations remain high that his leadership will signal a shift toward transparency and fairness in Nigeria’s democratic process.