The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking a court order compelling the electoral umpire to investigate allegations that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) diverted about ₦800 billion from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations to finance political and campaign activities.
In the suit, filed last week before the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, SERAP is asking the court to issue an order of mandamus directing INEC to investigate the allegations and determine whether the reported contributions breached provisions of the Electoral Act governing campaign financing.
The organisation also wants the court to compel INEC to demand full disclosure from the APC and the affected governors on the alleged campaign fund, including the identities of contributors and the lawful sources of the funds.
SERAP further urged the court to direct the electoral commission to commence a comprehensive review of compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act, particularly regarding political donations, campaign financing and disclosure requirements by political parties and candidates in the current electoral cycle.
According to the rights group, the allegations raise fundamental concerns over transparency in political financing, electoral fairness and the constitutional right of Nigerians to participate freely in the democratic process.
It argued that opaque campaign financing remains a major conduit for corruption and undermines public confidence in democratic institutions.
In the suit filed by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, SERAP contended that the alleged diversion of public funds for political purposes poses “a grave threat” to the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The organisation maintained that large public financial flows, combined with weak transparency and oversight mechanisms, provide sufficient grounds for INEC to activate its constitutional and statutory powers to investigate and monitor political financing.
SERAP argued that Section 91 of the Electoral Act empowers INEC to regulate political donations, require disclosure of contributors and sources of campaign funds, and sanction individuals or political parties that exceed legally prescribed donation limits.
It noted that political parties found guilty of violating the donation ceiling risk fines of up to ₦10 million and forfeiture of excess funds, while individuals may be liable to penalties amounting to five times the value of contributions made beyond the legal limit.
According to SERAP, the Constitution, the Electoral Act and Nigeria’s obligations under international anti-corruption and human rights treaties impose clear responsibilities on INEC to prevent the misuse of state resources for electoral advantage and to guarantee transparency in political financing.
The organisation further argued that where allegations suggest that public resources may have been channelled into political campaigns outside lawful procedures, INEC has a legal duty to investigate and enforce the relevant provisions of the law.
SERAP also cited Sections 13, 14 and 15 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, insisting that electoral integrity cannot be guaranteed without accountability in campaign financing.
It warned that any diversion of public funds for partisan political purposes would amount to a serious abuse of public trust, distort electoral competition and undermine the principle of a level playing field.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
