The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, to take over the investigation into the reported attack on the convoy of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Benue State.
SERAP, while condemning the attack, urged Disu to take over the case to ensure that the investigation is conducted independently and comprehensively, including determining whether any public officials, political actors or other individuals were involved in, sponsored, facilitated or condoned the reported attack.
In a statement it’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Wednesday, the agency, barely 24 hours after suspected political hoodlums reportedly confronted and stopped Obi’s convoy along Gboko Road in Makurdi, near the Air Force Base, shortly after the former Anambra State governor arrived in the stated that those found responsible for the incident should be identified and prosecuted where there is sufficient admissible evidence, stressing that accountability should extend beyond the immediate perpetrators to anyone who may have sponsored or facilitated the incident.
According to the organisation, the reported attack constitutes a serious threat to political participation, civic space and Nigeria’s democratic process, while also raising concerns about the protection of fundamental rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
SERAP noted that politicians, presidential candidates, journalists, civil society actors and other citizens must be able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and political participation without fear of intimidation, threats or violence.
The organisation also expressed concern that attacks and intimidation against political actors could further shrink Nigeria’s already fragile civic and political space, particularly as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.
It discloded that the reported incident should also be considered against Nigeria’s history of political violence, intimidation and impunity, warning that failure to properly investigate and prosecute acts of political violence could deny victims justice and create an environment in which perpetrators feel emboldened to commit further attacks.
SERAP argued that allowing attacks against political opponents to go unpunished could undermine the rule of law and weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“No individual or political group should be above the law,” the organisation said, warning that impunity for political violence could threaten the integrity of the country’s democratic process.
It also urged political parties, candidates, supporters and public officials to refrain from threats, inflammatory rhetoric and violence while respecting the rights of political opponents and citizens to participate freely in public affairs.
SERAP referenced constitutional and international protections for political participation, noting that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, while Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognise citizens’ right to participate freely in the government of their country.
The organisation maintained that such rights would have little meaning if political actors and citizens could not exercise them without fear of threats, intimidation or violence.
SERAP urged President Tinubu to act swiftly by directing IGP to establish the facts surrounding the incident, identify those responsible and investigate their alleged sponsors or facilitators, with a view to holding them accountable.
It said decisive action would not only provide justice in connection with the reported attack but would also send a strong message that political violence and intimidation would not be tolerated ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the incident and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported attack.