The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking a court order compelling the electoral body 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) funds for political and campaign activities.
According to a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, reports alleged that APC governors were making monthly deductions from their FAAC allocations into a dedicated fund purportedly intended to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026 and filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, asks the court to direct INEC to investigate the allegations and determine whether any provisions of Nigeria’s Electoral Act have been violated.
SERAP is also seeking an order compelling INEC to obtain full disclosure from the governors and the APC regarding any contributions made to campaign-related funds, including the identities of donors and the sources of the funds.
In addition, the organisation wants the court to direct INEC to conduct a broader review of compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act, particularly on campaign financing, political donations, and the sources of funds used by political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The suit, filed by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, argues that the allegations raise serious concerns about political finance transparency, electoral fairness, and the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.
SERAP maintained that opaque campaign financing encourages corruption, undermines public confidence in elections, and threatens citizens’ constitutional right to freely participate in the democratic process.
According to the organisation, Nigerians have a right to know who finances political parties and candidates, stressing that transparency in political funding is essential to preventing corruption, undue influence, and the misuse of public resources.
SERAP further argued that if the allegations are proven, the diversion of public funds for partisan political purposes would constitute an abuse of state resources capable of undermining the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The organisation also contended that the alleged financial flows, combined with weak disclosure and oversight mechanisms, provide sufficient grounds for INEC to exercise its constitutional and statutory powers to investigate the matter.
Citing Section 91 of the Electoral Act, SERAP noted that INEC has the authority to regulate political donations, require disclosure of funding sources, and impose sanctions on individuals or political parties that exceed legally prescribed contribution limits.
The group also relied on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, arguing that these instruments impose obligations on public institutions to promote transparency, accountability, and fairness in electoral processes.
SERAP accused INEC of failing to proactively enforce electoral safeguards against political finance abuses, warning that continued inaction could weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The organisation insisted that no individual or political party should be allowed to exceed legally prescribed campaign contribution limits and called for full transparency regarding the origin and scale of political funding.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
