The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to act 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 called on Tinubu to establish a presidential panel of enquiry to investigate the unlawful annulment and identify those responsible for what it described as “deliberate violations of Nigerians’ democratic freedoms.”
It also urged the President to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to prosecute those found culpable, regardless of political standing.
“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,” SERAP said.
According to the group, no one should be above the law, and violations of democratic rights have no statute of limitations.
SERAP further asked Tinubu to initiate an executive bill amending the Electoral Act 2022 to make the electronic transmission of election results compulsory and grant every voter access to election documents—not just parties in petitions.
“Amending the Electoral Act to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory and allow access for every voter to the results would ensure free, fair, and transparent elections and improve public confidence in the electoral process,” the letter read.
The organisation warned that failure to confront the June 12 injustice would only embolden future violations.
READ ALSO: SERAP to Tinubu: Stop Wike From Shutting 34 Embassies Over Rent
“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,” it stated.
It also called on Tinubu to direct the Attorney General to immediately end all prosecutions against Nigerians facing charges for peacefully exercising their rights, including through protests.
Additionally, SERAP demanded reforms of laws that stifle free expression, such as criminal defamation, injurious falsehood, and certain provisions in the Cybercrimes Act, Criminal Code, and Penal Code, which, it said, are often used to target critics and journalists.
“SERAP is concerned that anti-freedom of expression laws continue to be used to target, arrest, detain, and unfairly prosecute journalists, activists, critics, and other Nigerians peacefully expressing their views,” the letter added.
The group also warned against the increasing use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) to intimidate dissenters.
While acknowledging Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech affirming commitment to June 12 ideals, freedom, justice, and accountability, SERAP said the words must be backed by action.
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with your expressed commitment to Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the country’s international human rights obligations,” it wrote.
The group gave a seven-day ultimatum for action, warning that it would pursue legal measures if the government failed to respond.