In a statement, SERAP cited reports that suggested there was a brazen pattern of vote-buying and electoral bribery at several polling units in the state, including bargaining prices for votes and payments made in uncompleted buildings.
In the suit filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the group is seeking an order to compel INEC to seek and obtain detailed information about reports of vote-buying by the three leading political parties in the 2022 Ekiti State governorship election.
It is also seeks an order to compel INEC to promptly and effectively prosecute those arrested, and to bring to justice anyone who sponsored, aided and abetted them.
The group said vote-buying is a threat to fair and representative elections and amounts to undue influence and improper electoral influence.
In a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said wealthy candidates and their sponsors ought not to be allowed to profit from their crimes adding that arresting and prosecuting vote-buyers will end widespread impunity for vote buying ahead of the February 2023 general election.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
