The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has strongly urged President Bola Tinubu to translate his Democracy Day commitments into tangible action by addressing long-standing injustices in Nigeria's democratic history. A key focus of this appeal, detailed in a statement signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, is the unlawful annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, a pivotal moment in the nation's past.

SERAP has called upon President Tinubu to establish a presidential panel of inquiry dedicated to investigating the annulment of the June 12 election. The objective of this panel would be to identify and bring to justice individuals responsible for what SERAP describes as "deliberate violations of Nigerians' democratic freedoms." The organization stressed that accountability should be pursued regardless of the political status or affiliation of those found culpable, with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, tasked with their prosecution.

Beyond historical accountability, SERAP also pressed for significant electoral and human rights reforms. It urged President Tinubu to instruct Mr. Fagbemi to promptly draft and present an executive bill to the National Assembly. This bill would aim to amend the Electoral Act 2022, crucially making the electronic transmission of election results mandatory and ensuring all voters have direct access to election documents. SERAP contends that such amendments are vital for enhancing electoral transparency, preventing manipulation, and restoring public confidence in Nigeria's democratic process. They argued that the current provision, section 74(1) of the Electoral Act, which grants access only to 'parties to an election petition,' is insufficient and should be expanded to include every voter.

Furthermore, SERAP demanded that the President direct Mr. Fagbemi to immediately discontinue all prosecutions and drop charges against Nigerians currently detained or facing trial solely for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights, including participation in protests and freedom of expression. The organization emphasized that true democracy cannot flourish without safeguarding these essential freedoms.

Another critical area of reform highlighted by SERAP concerns freedom of expression laws. It urged the President to push for the repeal or amendment of repressive statutes, specifically mentioning provisions within the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation and falsehood laws in the Criminal and Penal Codes. These laws, according to SERAP, have been consistently used to silence journalists, critics, and dissenters. The group also expressed significant concern over the rising trend of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), which are often backed by politicians and security agencies to harass and intimidate citizens who peacefully express their views.

SERAP underscored that there is no statute of limitations on violations of democratic rights, asserting that achieving the ideals of June 12 is impossible without genuine accountability and systemic reforms. They warned that the failure to prosecute those responsible for the June 12 annulment has fostered a culture of impunity, which in turn encourages ongoing subversion of elections and political rights across Nigeria. SERAP reminded President Tinubu that his administration's obligations under the Constitution, his oath of office, and Nigeria's international human rights commitments necessitate dismantling repressive structures and safeguarding democratic freedoms.

While acknowledging the President's recent pledges to deepen democracy and expand civic space in his Democracy Day speech, SERAP insisted that only concrete reforms, rather than lofty speeches, can truly honor the legacy of June 12 and steer Nigeria towards a just and free society. SERAP gave the President a strict seven-day deadline to begin implementing these comprehensive recommendations, stating that if no action is taken, the organization would consider appropriate legal actions to compel compliance in the public interest.