The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose how it plans to regulate political financing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a Freedom of Information request dated August 22, 2026, SERAP urged INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan to clarify whether the commission has exercised its power under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to set limits on political contributions.
The organisation wants INEC to publish any applicable limits and explain how they will be communicated and enforced among political parties, candidates and donors.
SERAP also asked the commission to disclose the systems and personnel it has put in place to monitor campaign contributions and spending, including cash and in-kind donations, digital and social-media financing, third-party spending and donations made through intermediaries.
According to SERAP, greater transparency is necessary to prevent excessive or undisclosed funding from distorting electoral competition and to allow Nigerians to make informed political choices.
The organisation reminded INEC that its constitutional responsibility goes beyond receiving financial statements from political parties. It said the commission is required to examine party finances, conduct necessary investigations and report its findings to the National Assembly.
SERAP therefore asked INEC to publish the latest financial information submitted by political parties, including annual statements, audited accounts and election expenditure returns covering 2023 to 2025.
It also requested INEC’s Section 225 and 226 examination and audit reports, including annual reports submitted to the National Assembly between 2023 and 2025, as well as details of any enforcement actions taken over political-finance violations.
The organisation further wants INEC to disclose its 2027 political-finance monitoring plan, including arrangements for real-time or near-real-time monitoring and cooperation with anti-corruption, financial-intelligence, regulatory and law-enforcement agencies.
SERAP also asked the commission to identify political parties that submitted reports of contributions received after the 2023 general elections, the dates they submitted them and actions taken against parties that failed to meet the statutory deadline.
The group said the issue was particularly important given concerns over excessive campaign spending, opaque funding sources, weak disclosure and limited enforcement of political-finance rules in Nigeria.
“Citizens cannot meaningfully exercise their political rights if undisclosed or excessive financial resources are allowed to distort the political process.”
SERAP gave INEC seven days to provide the requested information, warning that it would consider legal action if the commission failed to respond.
Source: Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
