The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over its alleged failure to disclose limits on political donations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to compel INEC to state whether it has set limits on political contributions under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 and, if so, publish the limits and explain how they will be enforced.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2114/2026, also seeks an order directing INEC to disclose the systems and procedures it has put in place to monitor political donations and campaign spending.
SERAP said the failure to make the information public has left political parties, candidates, donors and voters uncertain about the rules governing 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 organization said in the suit.
The organization is also asking the court to compel INEC to publish the latest financial statements, audited accounts, sources of funds, assets, liabilities and election expenditure returns of political parties for 2023 to 2025.
It further wants the commission to release its examination and audit reports on political parties, including reports submitted to the National Assembly, as well as details of actions taken over alleged political-finance violations.
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SERAP argued that INEC’s constitutional responsibility extends beyond receiving financial records from political parties.
“INEC’s constitutional responsibility is not simply to receive financial statements from political parties,” the organization said, arguing that the Constitution requires the commission to examine party finances, conduct necessary investigations and report its findings to the National Assembly.
SERAP is also seeking information on INEC’s plans to monitor political financing during the 2027 elections, including cash and non-cash donations, digital and social media advertising, political consultants and campaign spending by third parties.
The organization said Section 91,1, of the Electoral Act 2026 empowers INEC to limit the amount of money or other assets an individual may donate to a political party or candidate.
It argued that where the commission has exercised that power, Nigerians should have access to the limits and information on how compliance will be monitored.
SERAP said the disclosure was particularly important as political parties and candidates had begun raising funds and spending in preparation for the 2027 elections.
The organization also relied on Sections 225 and 226 of the Constitution in seeking information on INEC’s examination of party finances and reports submitted to the National Assembly.
The suit was filed by SERAP’s lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke. No date has been fixed for the hearing.
NAN
