It also urged it to identify suspected perpetrators and ensure their prosecution, regardless of their political status or affiliations.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), on Monday, called on the Chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu to urgently seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general elections.
Controversy has continued to surround the outcomes of the presidential, governorship and State Assembly elections across the country. Some governors have been accused to have bribing officials of the electoral umpire to truncate the outcome of the elections. Many of the elections have become subjects of litigation.
However, SERAP in a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, advised INEC to promptly and effectively investigate reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the general elections.
It also urged it to identify suspected perpetrators and ensure their prosecution, regardless of their political status or affiliations.
SERAP maintained that by engaging in electoral violence and other electoral offences in so blatant a fashion, suspected perpetrators and their sponsors have clearly acted in violation of constitutional provisions, international standards and the Electoral Act.
"Section 52 of the ICPC Act allows INEC to seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences such as bribery that may have been committed by any state governors and/or their deputies," the SERAP cited in the statement.
It added, "INEC should promptly collaborate with the ICPC and other law enforcement agencies to identify any politicians and their sponsors suspected to be responsible for electoral violence and other electoral offences during the elections.
"Identifying, arresting, investigating and prosecuting those suspected of perpetrating electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general elections would act as a deterrent against electoral violence in future elections.
"We would be grateful if immediate steps are taken to implement the recommended measures within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter."
The group, however, warned that if INEC failed to act on the letter after seven days of its publication, it would consider appropriate legal actions to compel the commission to comply with its request in the public interest.