The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Bola Tinubu to back up his Democracy Day rhetoric with defensive action by addressing the lingering injustices in Nigeria’s democratic history, especially, the landmark June 12, 1993 presidential election.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday, signed by the group’s Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare.
SERAP urged President Tinubu to set up a presidential panel of inquiry to investigate the annulment of the election on June 12 and uncover those who are behind what is described as the “deliberate violations of Nigerians democratic freedoms.”
The organization stated that not minding the political position of individuals found responsible, they should be brought to justice through Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
SERAP also urged the president to instruct Fagbemi to urgently draft and present an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022, specifically to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory and grant all voters access to election documents.
The group argued that this would enhance electoral transparency, prevent manipulation, and help restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The organisation called on the president to immediately halt all prosecutions and drop charges against Nigerians currently detained or facing trial simply for exercising their rights to peaceful protest and free expression.
“Your Democracy Day speech conveyed a commitment to freedom, transparent and accountable governance, and social justice,” the letter stated.
“However, such commitments will ring hollow unless your government takes concrete action to end impunity for past violations, enforce electoral reforms, and guarantee democratic freedoms.”
SERAP emphasised that there is no statute of limitations on violations of democratic rights, and that achieving the ideals of June 12 is impossible without accountability and systemic reforms.
It warned that the failure to prosecute those responsible for the June 12 annulment has entrenched a culture of impunity, encouraging continued subversion of elections and political rights in Nigeria.
“Amending the Electoral Act to mandate electronic transmission of results and ensuring open access to electoral documents are essential to delivering credible elections,” the group stated. “It will also allow voters to verify the integrity of electoral outcomes.”
The organisation also demanded a review of laws undermining freedom of expression.
It asked the president to push for the repeal or amendment of repressive statutes, including the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation and falsehood laws in the Criminal and Penal Codes, which have been used to silence journalists, critics, and dissenters.
SERAP raised concern over the growing trend of strategic lawsuits against public participation, noting that the legal tactics, often backed by politicians and security agencies are being used to harass and intimidate Nigerians peacefully expressing their views.
“Your administration’s obligation under the Constitution, your oath of office, and Nigeria’s international human rights commitments requires you to dismantle structures of repression and safeguard democratic freedoms,” SERAP wrote.
The group gave the president a seven-day deadline to begin implementing its recommendations, failing which it vowed to initiate legal action to compel compliance in the public interest.
While acknowledging the president’s recent pledges to deepen democracy and expand civic space, SERAP insisted that only concrete reforms, not lofty speeches, can truly honour the legacy of June 12 and move Nigeria towards a just and free society.
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