Daud Olatunji
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the electoral body to disclose political contribution limits ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP is specifically asking the court to compel INEC to state whether it has exercised its powers under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to prescribe limits on contributions to political parties and candidates and, if so, disclose the limits and how they were communicated to political parties, candidates, donors and the public.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2114/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, by SERAP’s lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke. No hearing date had been fixed as of Sunday.
SERAP is also seeking an order directing INEC to disclose the systems and procedures it has put in place to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with political contribution and campaign expenditure limits as parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 elections.
The organisation said the action followed what it described as INEC’s failure to publicly disclose whether it had prescribed contribution limits under the 2026 Electoral Act.
According to SERAP, the absence of publicly accessible information on contribution limits and enforcement mechanisms could make it difficult for voters, journalists and civil society organisations to scrutinise political financing.
“Greater transparency in political financing is essential to ensuring that the 2027 elections are conducted on a level playing field and that citizens are able to make free and informed political choices,” the organisation said.
Beyond the contribution limits, SERAP wants the court to compel INEC to publish political parties’ latest financial statements and audited accounts, including their sources of funds, assets, liabilities and election expenditure returns covering 2023 to 2025.
It is also asking for INEC’s examination and audit reports on political parties, including reports submitted to the National Assembly, as well as records of enforcement actions taken over alleged political-finance violations.
SERAP further wants INEC to explain how it determines any contribution limits and how it intends to monitor different forms of political financing during the 2027 campaign.
The areas identified by the organisation include cash and in-kind contributions, digital and social-media advertising, political consultants and third-party campaign expenditure.
SERAP’s case is anchored, among other provisions, on Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026, which it says empowers INEC to prescribe limits on political contributions and obtain information concerning donations and their sources.
The organisation also relies on constitutional provisions concerning INEC’s responsibilities in relation to the financial records and accounts of political parties, arguing that the commission’s role extends beyond merely receiving financial statements.
SERAP is asking the court to compel disclosure of the information rather than relying solely on a voluntary response from INEC.
The suit comes amid preparations for the 2027 general elections and growing attention to campaign financing, political donations and the mechanisms available to monitor electoral expenditure.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that INEC’s 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties contain specific provisions on individual contributions to political parties or aspirants, election expenses, annual statements of party assets and liabilities, election expenditure reports and disclosure of contributions.
The court will ultimately determine whether the reliefs sought by SERAP should be granted.
If you want, I can also turn this into a �more investigative PLATFORM TIMES version, with a sharper headline/rider and a stronger focus on the potential implications of political-money disclosure for the 2027 elections.
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