LAGOS, Nigeria (CHATNEWSTV) — The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to “promptly set up a presidential panel of enquiry to investigate the unlawful annulment of the elections of June 12, 1993 and to identify those suspected to be responsible for the deliberate violations of Nigerians’ democratic freedoms.”
In a letter dated June 15, 2025, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization also called on the President to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, as a defender of public interest, to bring to justice anyone responsible for the unlawful annulment of the elections of June 12, 1993, regardless of their political status or affiliation.”
SERAP urged Tinubu to go beyond rhetoric by backing his Democracy Day commitments with concrete legal reforms and accountability measures.
“These expressed commitments won’t be enough unless your government demonstrates the political will to combat impunity for the annulment of the June 12 elections and advance Nigerians’ democratic freedoms,” the organization wrote.
SERAP is also pushing for urgent amendments to the Electoral Act 2022. The group asked the President to instruct the Attorney General to “draft and send to the National Assembly an executive bill to amend the Act, including to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory and allow access of every voter to election documents.”
The letter also asked Tinubu to “direct Mr Fagbemi to immediately discontinue all the cases of Nigerians arrested, detained and facing unfair prosecutions solely for peacefully exercising their human rights including participating in peaceful protests.”
President Tinubu, in his address at the National Assembly on June 12 to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day, pledged to rededicate the government to the “ideals of June 12 — freedom, transparent and accountable government, social justice, active citizen participation, and a just society where no one is oppressed.”
SERAP, however, stated that real commitment requires tangible results.
“No one is above the law, and there is no statute of limitations for violations of democratic freedoms. The ‘ideals of June 12’ cannot be achieved and real democracy cannot flourish in Nigeria without electoral accountability, democratic and human rights reforms and strict obedience to the rule of law,” it said.
The letter noted: “Amending the Electoral Act to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory and allow access of every voter to the results would ensure free, fair and transparent elections and improve public confidence in the electoral process.”
“Impunity for the annulment of June 12 elections has continued to encourage politicians to undermine the country’s elections and deny Nigerians their right to political participation and other human rights.”
“Addressing impunity for the unlawful annulment of the June 12 elections and ensuring electoral and human rights reforms would improve Nigeria’s electoral process and citizens’ right to participate in their own government in free, fair and transparent elections.”
“Directing Mr Fagbemi to immediately discontinue all the cases against Nigerians facing prosecutions solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights would strengthen democratic freedoms and improve respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
Repeal anti-freedom laws, protect rights
In addition, SERAP urged the President to direct the Attorney General “to urgently draft and send to the National Assembly an executive bill to amend all anti-freedom of expression laws, including the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act, and criminal defamation and injurious falsehood provisions in the Criminal Code and Penal Code.”
According to the group, these outdated laws continue to be used as tools of oppression.
“SERAP is concerned that anti-freedom of expression laws such as the provisions of the criminal defamation and injurious falsehood provisions of the Criminal Code and Penal Code continue to be used to target, arrest, detain and unfairly prosecute journalists, activists, critics and other Nigerians peacefully expressing their views,” it said.
“SERAP is also concerned about the use and potential chilling effect of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) by law enforcement, security agencies and politicians to intimidate and harass journalists, activists, critics and other Nigerians simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.”
The group said the combined effect of Tinubu’s stated commitment, his oath of office, the Nigerian Constitution, and the country’s international obligations should compel his government to end impunity and reform the system.
“The combined effect of your expressed commitment, the Nigerian Constitution, your oath of office, and the country’s international human rights obligations is the requirement for your government to combat the lingering impunity for the annulment of the June 12 elections, and advance the democratic freedoms and human rights of Nigerians,” it said.
SERAP criticized Section 74(1) of the Electoral Act, which limits access to election documents only to parties in election petitions. The organization argued that this section should be revised.
“SERAP notes that section 74(1) of the Electoral Act only grants access to election documents to ‘parties to an election petition.’ SERAP believes that the provision should be amended to allow every voter to access election documents to promote a free, fair and transparent elections,” it stated.
“The right to access election documents should give rise to claims under section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Freedom of Information Act.”
SERAP concluded the letter with a deadline for the President to act.
“We would therefore be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest,” it said.
The letter reaffirmed that the request was made in good faith and grounded in the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights frameworks.
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with your expressed commitment on Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
SERAP also acknowledged the President’s earlier statements and welcomed his calls for legislative tolerance and civil liberties.
“SERAP notes and welcomes your expressed commitment made in your speech in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day including to ‘rededicate ourselves to the ideals of June 12; freedom, transparent and accountable government, social justice, active citizen participation, and a just society where no one is oppressed.’”
“SERAP also welcomes your commitment ‘to continue to do more to make real the dream of Nigeria’s political and economic democracy. We must be vigilant in expanding the political space. We must always value dialogue over dictatorship, persuasion over suppression and rights over might.’”
“SERAP also welcomes your call to the National Assembly to ‘be tolerant and broad-minded in your legislative action regarding speech and civil liberties.’”
But the group maintained that those sentiments must be translated into law and justice.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
