The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to “urgently seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences including bribery against state governors and their deputies during the just concluded general election.”
SERAP also urged Yakubu to promptly and effectively investigate reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the general election, and to identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure their effective prosecution, regardless of their political status or affiliations.
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In a letter dated March 25, 2023, signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said by allegedly engaging in electoral violence and other electoral offences “in so blatant a fashion”, suspected perpetrators and their sponsors had clearly acted in violation of constitutional provisions, international standards and the Electoral Act.
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SERAP said Section 52 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, allowed INEC to seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences such as bribery that may have been committed by any state governor and/or their deputies.
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