The Socio-{Economic} Rights and Accountability Undertaking (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to behave decisively on the lingering injustice surrounding the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.
In a letter dated June 14, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation known as on Tinubu to ascertain a presidential panel of enquiry to analyze the illegal annulment and determine these liable for what it described as “deliberate violations of Nigerians’ democratic freedoms.”
It additionally urged the President to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to prosecute these discovered culpable, no matter political standing.
“These expressed commitments gained’t be sufficient until your authorities demonstrates the political will to fight impunity for the annulment of the June 12 elections and advance Nigerians’ democratic freedoms,” SERAP mentioned.
In accordance with the group, nobody ought to be above the regulation, and violations of democratic rights haven’t any statute of limitations.
SERAP additional requested Tinubu to provoke an government invoice amending the Electoral Act 2022 to make the digital transmission of election outcomes obligatory and grant each voter entry to election paperwork—not simply events in petitions.
“Amending the Electoral Act to make the digital transmission of election outcomes necessary and permit entry for each voter to the outcomes would guarantee free, honest, and clear elections and enhance public confidence within the electoral course of,” the letter learn.
The organisation warned that failure to confront the June 12 injustice would solely embolden future violations.
READ ALSO: SERAP to Tinubu: Cease Wike From Shutting 34 Embassies Over Hire
“Impunity for the annulment of June 12 elections has continued to encourage politicians to undermine the nation’s elections and deny Nigerians their proper to political participation and different human rights,” it acknowledged.
It additionally known as on Tinubu to direct the Legal professional Common to instantly finish all prosecutions in opposition to Nigerians dealing with costs for peacefully exercising their rights, together with by means of protests.
Moreover, SERAP demanded reforms of legal guidelines that stifle free expression, resembling felony defamation, injurious falsehood, and sure provisions within the Cybercrimes Act, Legal Code, and Penal Code, which, it mentioned, are sometimes used to focus on critics and journalists.
“SERAP is worried that anti-freedom of expression legal guidelines proceed for use to focus on, arrest, detain, and unfairly prosecute journalists, activists, critics, and different Nigerians peacefully expressing their views,” the letter added.
The group additionally warned in opposition to the growing use of strategic lawsuits in opposition to public participation (SLAPPs) to intimidate dissenters.
Whereas acknowledging Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech affirming dedication to June 12 beliefs, freedom, justice, and accountability, SERAP mentioned the phrases have to be backed by motion.
“Our requests are introduced within the public curiosity, and consistent with your expressed dedication to Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the necessities of the Nigerian Structure 1999 [as amended], and the nation’s worldwide human rights obligations,” it wrote.
The group gave a seven-day ultimatum for motion, warning that it will pursue authorized measures if the federal government failed to reply.
