SERAP Sues INEC Over Alleged N800b APC Campaign Fund

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking a court order compelling the electoral body to investigate allegations that about N800 billion in public funds was channelled into a campaign fund to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, also seeks to compel INEC to enforce campaign finance provisions contained in the Electoral Act.

In the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, SERAP is asking the court to issue an order of mandamus directing the commission to investigate claims that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly diverted part of their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations for political and campaign purposes.

According to the rights group, reports indicate that the governors have allegedly been making monthly contributions from their FAAC allocations into a dedicated campaign fund ahead of the 2027 general election.

Beyond the investigation, SERAP is asking the court to direct INEC to compel the governors and the APC to disclose details of the alleged campaign fund, including the identities of donors and the lawful sources of the money.

The organisation also wants the electoral commission to commence a formal review of compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act by all political parties and candidates, particularly in relation to campaign financing and the sources of political donations.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi.

In the suit, the organisation argued that the allegations raise fundamental questions about transparency in political financing, electoral integrity and Nigerians’ constitutional right to participate freely in the democratic process.

“These allegations raise serious concerns about political finance transparency, electoral fairness, and the constitutional right of Nigerians to participate freely in their own government,” SERAP stated.

It added: “Opaque political financing remains a major entry point for corruption and a threat to democratic legitimacy. Nigerians deserve to know who funds the candidates or political parties of their choice and the sources of any such funding.”

The organisation maintained that the alleged use of public resources for political purposes, if established, would undermine democratic accountability and public confidence in the electoral process.

According to SERAP, transparency and accountability in campaign financing are essential safeguards against corruption, undue political influence and state capture.

It further argued that the allegations, if left uninvestigated, could pose a serious threat to the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

The group said the reported scale of the alleged diversion of public funds, coupled with weak oversight mechanisms, provided sufficient grounds for INEC to activate its constitutional and statutory investigative powers.

SERAP also observed that political financing in Nigeria continues to be characterised by limited transparency, inadequate disclosure and weak enforcement, creating opportunities for the misuse of public resources.

Citing Section 91 of the Electoral Act, the organisation argued that INEC has the legal authority to regulate political donations, demand disclosure of campaign contributions and their sources, and sanction any violations of the law.

It noted that political parties that exceed donation limits prescribed by the commission are liable to fines of up to N10 million and forfeiture of the excess amount, while individuals who exceed the limits may be fined five times the value of the excess contribution.

SERAP further argued that the Constitution, the Electoral Act, anti-corruption laws and international human rights instruments ratified by Nigeria all prohibit the misuse of public resources for political advantage and impose obligations on INEC to ensure transparency in campaign financing.

“The Commission has constitutional and statutory obligations to ensure that no individual or political party exceeds legally prescribed contribution limits, whether directly or indirectly, and to ensure full transparency regarding the origin and quantum of political funding,” the group stated.

The rights organisation also accused INEC of failing to proactively enforce constitutional and electoral provisions relating to political finance, arguing that such inaction weakens public confidence in electoral institutions.

SERAP relied on Sections 13, 14(2)(c) and 15(5) of the Constitution, as well as Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption to support its case.

According to the organisation, the alleged diversion of public funds for campaign purposes would distort electoral competition and undermine the ability of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.