Mujeeb Akindoyin
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has given the Independent National Electoral Commission seven days to disclose political parties’ finances, campaign expenditure records and limits on individual donations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP also demanded that INEC explain how it intends to monitor and enforce compliance with political-financing rules, warning that opaque funding and the increasing monetisation of elections could undermine the credibility of the 2027 polls.
The organisation made the demands in a Freedom of Information request signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.
SERAP specifically asked the commission to disclose whether it had exercised its statutory powers under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to set limits on the amount individuals may contribute to political parties or candidates.
Where such limits have been prescribed, the organisation demanded their immediate publication and communication to political parties, candidates, donors and the Nigerian public.
It also asked INEC to disclose the systems, personnel and procedures established to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with contribution and campaign expenditure limits during the ongoing electoral process.
SERAP said the commission should explain how it would track cash and in-kind donations, digital and social-media financing, third-party spending and donations channelled through intermediaries to evade statutory limits.
The organisation said greater transparency in political financing was necessary to ensure a level playing field and enable voters to make informed choices.
According to SERAP, INEC’s constitutional responsibility goes beyond collecting financial statements from political parties.
It said the Constitution requires the commission to examine the finances of political parties, conduct necessary investigations and report its findings to the National Assembly.
SERAP therefore urged INEC to publish the latest detailed statements submitted by political parties showing their assets and liabilities, sources of funds, other assets and expenditure.
It also demanded the publication of parties’ annual financial statements, audited accounts and election expenditure returns covering 2023 to 2025.
The organisation further requested INEC’s examination and audit reports under Sections 225 and 226 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as annual reports submitted to the National Assembly between 2023 and 2025.
SERAP also sought details of enforcement actions taken by the commission against political parties, candidates or individuals found to have violated political-finance and campaign expenditure regulations.
It cited Section 91(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which empowers INEC to limit the amount of money or other assets an individual can contribute to a political party or candidate and to demand information on the amount donated and the source of the funds.
The group said the law also provides sanctions where individuals, candidates or political parties exceed contribution limits prescribed by the commission.
SERAP expressed concern over what it described as Nigeria’s persistent problems of excessive campaign spending, opaque sources of political funding, weak disclosure mechanisms and limited enforcement of electoral-finance regulations.
It argued that the failure of political parties to properly disclose campaign contributions had become systemic, while weak sanctions had undermined INEC’s ability to enforce compliance.
The organisation warned that undisclosed or excessive political funding could distort electoral competition if not detected and addressed before election day.
It said the information being demanded would enable Nigerians to scrutinise political financing and identify potentially illicit or excessive funding before such resources could influence the electoral process.
SERAP said the increasing monetisation of Nigerian elections, coupled with the potential misuse of state institutions, posed significant threats to democratic integrity and fair political competition.
It consequently gave INEC seven days from receipt or publication of its letter to provide the requested information.
The organisation warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would prompt it to take appropriate legal action to compel the commission to release the information in the public interest.
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