By John Moses
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to launch a comprehensive investigation into the annulment of Nigeria’s landmark 1993 presidential election and to prosecute those responsible for undermining democratic principles.
In an open letter dated 14 June 2025, SERAP urged the president to establish a special presidential panel to unearth the truth behind the annulment of the June 12, 1993 vote, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election, and to hold perpetrators accountable, irrespective of their political influence.
The organisation also asked the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to initiate legal proceedings against individuals complicit in the annulment, which it described as a violation of the Nigerian people’s democratic rights.
“Real democracy cannot flourish without electoral justice and accountability,” said Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, in the letter. “The failure to address the wrongs of June 12 has created a culture of impunity, enabling political actors to sabotage democratic processes and violate citizens’ rights.”
SERAP further demanded legislative reforms to Nigeria’s electoral system. It called on the Minister of Justice to draft an executive bill that would amend the 2022 Electoral Act to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory and expand public access to electoral documents. Currently, access is limited to parties in an election petition.
In a bold step, the organisation also called for the immediate dismissal of all legal cases against Nigerians arrested or prosecuted solely for peacefully expressing their views or participating in protests. It said such action would bolster respect for human rights and democratic freedom.
Additionally, SERAP pressed for amendments to repressive laws, including sections of the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation statutes under the Criminal and Penal Codes, which it claims are routinely used to silence dissent.
Should the government fail to respond within seven days, SERAP warned it would consider legal action to compel compliance.
The rights group concluded by referencing President Tinubu’s Democracy Day remarks, in which he reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, justice, and citizen participation—values rooted in the legacy of June 12.
