The civic group stated this in a tweet, revealing that the leave was granted by Hon. Justice Mohammed on Thursday.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) permission to proceed with its lawsuit, which seeks to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to charge suspected vote-buyers arrested during the Ekiti State Governorship election.
The civic group stated this in a tweet, revealing that the leave was granted by Hon. Justice Mohammed on Thursday.
“BREAKING: Hon. Justice Mohammed (Court 3) of the Federal High Court, Abuja today granted SERAP the leave to pursue our suit seeking to compel INEC to prosecute those involved in alleged vote-buying during the recently concluded Ekiti State governorship election,” SERAP tweeted on Wednesday night.
In June, SaharaReporters reported that SARAP gave Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the INEC seven days to “gather information about reports of vote-buying, undue influence, intimidation, ballot box snatching, and other electoral offences by the three leading political parties in the just concluded Ekiti State governorship election.”
SERAP also urged INEC to “promptly and effectively prosecute those arrested, and bring to justice anyone who sponsored, aided and abetted them.”
In a letter dated June 18, 2022, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Corruption of the ballot box intrudes on the freedom of Nigerian voters to make up their own minds. Vote-buying and other forms of electoral corruption freeze out the less wealthy candidates and parties.
“Wealthy candidates and their sponsors ought not to be allowed to profit from their crimes. We are concerned that impunity for vote-buying and electoral bribery is widely prevalent in Nigeria, as perpetrators are rarely brought to justice.”
According to SERAP, “If voting is as important as INEC always claims it is, now is the time to end the buying of democracy by wealthy politicians and their sponsors.”
The letter read in part: “Vote-buying encourages poor governance and weakens citizens’ capacity to hold their ‘elected officials’ accountable for their actions.
“When political candidates or their sponsors decide to buy the support of the people rather than contest fairly for their votes, there are possibilities that such candidates and sponsors will show a disregard for democratic rules and a disposition to adopt illegal means becomes inevitable.
“Vote-buying is entirely an act of election malpractice connected with vested interest since an election can be said to be free and fair when it is devoid of vote-buying, ballot snatching, and intimidation.
“Your commitment to these issues will demonstrate to the voters that INEC is ready, willing and able to combat vote-buying and electoral bribery and reassure Nigerians that INEC will do everything within its mandates to ensure that the 2023 general elections are not tainted by corruption.
“Ending impunity for vote-buying, undue influence, ballot snatching, intimidation, and other electoral malpractices would contribute to free and fair elections and show that INEC would not tolerate these illegal practices during the 2023 general elections.
“There are reports of a brazen pattern of vote-buying and electoral bribery in several polling units during the just concluded Ekiti governorship election. There are reports of bargaining prices for votes and payments made in uncompleted buildings and bags of foodstuff being shared after votes have been cast.
“Acting swiftly to address the brazen impunity and reports of vote-buying and electoral bribery and other electoral offences during the Ekiti state governorship election would also send a strong message to politicians that INEC under your watch would not tolerate such practices during the 2023 general elections.
“SERAP is concerned that the failure of INEC to rein in vote-buying, electoral bribery and intimidation is illustrated by the fact that the body has not seriously addressed similar incidents in previous elections.”
The group described vote-buying and electoral bribery as a "threat to fair and representative elections".
It said, "A corruption-free electoral process is essential for building public confidence in the electoral process, and the credibility and legitimacy of the 2023 elections.”
“Preventing and combating vote-buying and electoral bribery would advance the people’s right to vote and to participate in their own government, as well as bolster the ability of INEC to discharge its constitutional and statutory mandates effectively and satisfactorily,” it said.
In a related development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command, on Monday charged four people before Justice Mathias Agboola of the State High Court, Osogbo for alleged paying for votes during the Osun State governorship election held on July 16, 2022.
This was announced in a statement released by Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, stating that the suspects' names are Adeyemo Bahiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail, Jimoh Kazeem and Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun.
BREAKING: Hon. Justice Mohammed (Court 3) of the Federal High Court, Abuja today granted SERAP the leave to pursue our suit seeking to compel INEC to prosecute those involved in alleged vote-buying during the recently concluded Ekiti State governorship election.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) October 26, 2022