The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged failure to disclose limits on political contributions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP, in the suit filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/2114/2026, is asking the court to compel INEC to disclose whether it has exercised its powers under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to set limits on the amount individuals can donate to political parties or candidates.
The organisation also wants the electoral commission to publish any limits already prescribed and explain how they are being communicated to political parties, candidates, donors and the public.
SERAP is further seeking an order directing INEC to disclose the systems it has established to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with political contribution and campaign expenditure limits.
The suit was filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja by SERAP’s lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke.
SERAP argued that Nigerians need access to information on political financing to ensure that the 2027 elections are conducted fairly.
The organisation said, “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.”
It also argued that INEC’s responsibility goes beyond collecting financial statements from political parties, noting that the Constitution requires the commission to examine party finances and conduct investigations where necessary.
According to SERAP, publishing INEC’s reports would enable citizens to determine whether the commission has effectively carried out its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
The organisation is also asking the court to compel INEC to disclose the latest financial statements and audited accounts of political parties, their sources of funds, assets, liabilities and election expenditure returns covering 2023 to 2025.
It wants the commission to make public its examination and audit reports under Sections 225 and 226 of the Constitution, including reports submitted to the National Assembly and details of sanctions or other enforcement measures taken over political-finance violations.
SERAP further wants INEC to disclose which political parties submitted post-2023 contribution reports, when the reports were filed and what actions were taken against parties that failed to comply with reporting requirements.
The organisation said the information was necessary because political parties and candidates were already mobilising funds, organising political activities and spending money on media, digital advertising, rallies and other campaign-related activities.
“Voters, journalists and civil-society organisations cannot effectively scrutinise political financing if the applicable limits are not easily accessible or if there is no publicly known mechanism for monitoring compliance,” SERAP said.
It expressed concern over the increasing monetisation of elections, warning that opaque political funding could undermine democratic competition.
The organisation also urged INEC to explain how it plans to monitor political contributions and expenditure during the 2027 election cycle, including cash and in-kind donations, digital and social-media advertising, political consultants and third-party campaign spending.
SERAP 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 request information on the amount donated and the source of the funds.
It said the commission should clarify whether it had exercised the power and, if so, immediately publish the applicable limits and explain the criteria used to determine them.
The organisation also referenced Section 226 of the Constitution, which requires INEC to prepare and submit annual reports on the accounts and balance sheets of political parties to the National Assembly and to conduct investigations necessary to determine whether parties maintain proper financial records.
SERAP maintained that effective regulation of political finance was essential to protecting electoral integrity, equal political participation and citizens’ right to make informed choices.
“Citizens cannot meaningfully exercise their political rights if undisclosed or excessive financial resources are allowed to distort the political process,” the organisation said.
It also relied on provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights concerning citizens’ participation in public affairs and access to information.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
