The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has rejected the attempt by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “to set aside the judgement directing and compelling INEC to investigate and prosecute perpetrators and sponsors of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the 2023 general elections.”
Kolawole Oluwadare, the deputy director of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), On Sunday said INEC’s application was brought to challenge the contempt lawsuit brought by SERAP against INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, over “the commission’s failure to obey the July 18, 2024 judgement by Justice Obiora Egwuatu”.
INEC had on December 17, 2024, filed a preliminary objection seeking to set aside Justice Egwuatu’s judgement, on the grounds of alleged “misrepresentation, non-disclosure and concealment of material facts.” INEC also sought to “relist the SERAP lawsuit against INEC so that it can be heard and determined on the merits.”
But Justice Egwuatu, in his ruling dated July 23, 2025, rejected INEC’s arguments and dismissed the preliminary objection.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu held that “the judgement delivered by this Court on the 18th July, 2024 is a final judgement. It is a judgement on the merits, and not a default judgement as contended by INEC. Accordingly, I resolve the issues in favour of SERAP and against INEC.”
Oluwadare said, “We welcome Justice Egwuatu’s ruling as a victory for the rule of law. INEC must immediately obey the judgement. A democratic state based on the rule of law cannot exist or function if INEC and its chair routinely ignore and/or fail to abide by a final judgement of the court.
“The recurring cases of electoral bribery and violence make a mockery of Nigeria’s electoral process and participatory democracy. INEC must turn the page on persistent electoral offences, end the impunity of perpetrators, and ensure citizens’ right to vote and political participation.”
