The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to order law enforcement agencies to seek and arrest the individuals involved in the attacks on the offices of the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
In a statement directed to the President, the organization had urged him to:
“Urgently order the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, and all the appropriate law enforcement agencies to pinpoint and arrest the perpetrators and sponsors of attacks on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, offices nationwide.”
Additionally, the president was also urged by the organization to “make sure that the perpetrators and their sponsors are named and publicly disgraced, and then promptly brought to justice, never mind their political affiliations.”
SERAP’s ultimatum is coming after the latest reports of simultaneous attacks on the local government offices of INEC in notable places including Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Ede, Osun State.
There have been an estimated number of 41such attacks in 14 states in the country between February 2019 and May 2021. Recent reports had also revealed that there have been at least 50 attacks on INEC offices in several states in the last few months.
“SERAP is seriously concerned about the escalating attacks on the offices and equipment of INEC and election materials.” A part of the statement had read.