The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently identify, document and publicly report growing cases of political violence, threats and intimidation ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
SERAP also called on the electoral commission to take immediate preventive measures to protect voters, candidates, journalists, election observers and civil society organisations from violence and intimidation.
The organisation, in a statement, urged INEC to promptly refer credible allegations of electoral violence and related offences to the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant law enforcement and security agencies for thorough, impartial, independent and transparent investigation and prosecution.
It further demanded access to justice and effective remedies for victims of political violence and their families.
SERAP called on INEC to document and preserve credible evidence of serious, widespread or systematic political violence in Osun State, urging the commission to bring evidence of conduct that may amount to crimes within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the attention of appropriate national and international accountability mechanisms, including the ICC Prosecutor.
According to the organisation, 56 politically related violent incidents and 14 fatalities have been reported in Osun over the past 12 months, with 36 incidents recorded in May and June alone.
The reported incidents, it said, include shootings, killings, physical attacks, intimidation, destruction of property and harassment.
SERAP noted that INEC had itself recognised political violence in Osun as a serious electoral-security concern, stressing the need for the commission to strengthen threat assessment, monitoring and coordination with law enforcement and security agencies ahead of the election.
It cited Section 97 of the Electoral Act 2026, which expressly prohibits threats of force or violence during political campaigns, as well as Section 14(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for the participation of the people in government.
The organisation also referenced Sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution, which protect freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and Section 42, which guarantees equality and non-discrimination.
SERAP stressed that no election should be conducted in an atmosphere of fear, arguing that Nigerians have the right to vote for candidates of their choice without intimidation or coercion.
It urged INEC to ensure that security arrangements for the Osun election protect all voters, candidates, journalists, observers and civil society organisations without political discrimination.
“INEC must act now to protect the integrity of the Osun election,” SERAP said.
