2027 Elections: SERAP Gives INEC 7 Days To Disclose Political Parties’ Finances, Donation Limits | Sahara Reporters

SERAP made the demand in a Freedom of Information signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and addressed to Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of INEC.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose political contribution limits and publish details of political parties’ finances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

SERAP made the demand in a Freedom of Information signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and addressed to Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of INEC.

The organisation urged Amupitan “to urgently disclose whether the Commission has exercised its statutory power to prescribe limits on political contributions under section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2026, and, if so, to publish the applicable limits and widely communicate them to political parties, candidates, donors and the Nigerian public.”

SERAP also urged INEC “to disclose the systems, personnel and procedures it has put in place to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with political contribution and campaign expenditure limits during the ongoing 2027 electoral process.”

It further asked the electoral commission to disclose its methodology for monitoring political financing, including arrangements for identifying and addressing cash and in-kind contributions, digital and social-media financing, third-party expenditure and donations made through intermediaries that could potentially circumvent statutory limits.

According to SERAP, “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 organisation argued that INEC’s responsibility goes beyond receiving financial statements from political parties.

“INEC’s constitutional responsibility is not simply to receive financial statements from political parties. The Constitution requires the Commission to examine political-party finances, conduct necessary investigations and report to the National Assembly,” it said.

“Publishing these reports would enable Nigerians to know whether these constitutional and statutory responsibilities have been effectively discharged.”

The organisation also warned about the increasing influence of money on Nigeria’s electoral process, saying, “The increasing monetisation of Nigeria’s elections, alongside the potential misuse of state institutions, poses serious threats to democratic integrity and electoral competition.”

It added that the requested information would help citizens identify excessive, undisclosed or potentially illicit political financing before such funds could distort electoral competition.

“The information requested would enable citizens to identify excessive, undisclosed or potentially illicit political financing before it can distort electoral competition, rather than only after votes have been cast,” SERAP said.

The group expressed concern over what it described as persistent failures by political parties to disclose campaign contributions.

“Nigeria has a persistent problem of political parties failing to disclose campaign contributions. Such non-compliance has been described as systemic, while the absence of clear and effective sanctions for default has weakened INEC’s ability to enforce compliance,” it said.

SERAP further stated that Nigeria had long faced challenges involving excessive campaign spending, opaque sources of political funding, weak disclosure and reporting, and limited enforcement of statutory spending and contribution rules.

It said previous assessments of Nigerian elections had identified gaps between the legal framework and its implementation, including concerns that spending limits could be circumvented and political-party expenditure was insufficiently regulated or transparently disclosed.

The organisation specifically cited Section 91(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides that: “The Commission shall have power to place limitation on the amount of money or other assets which an individual can contribute to a political party or candidate and to demand such information on the amount donated and source of the funds.”

SERAP said Section 91(2) provides sanctions where an individual, candidate or political party exceeds the applicable limit prescribed by INEC.

“Where INEC has exercised its power under section 91, Nigerians are entitled to know the applicable contribution limits and how the Commission intends to ensure compliance with them,” it said.

The group also referred to Sections 226(1), 226(2) and 226(3) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), which impose responsibilities on INEC regarding the examination of political parties’ accounts and financial records.

SERAP urged INEC to publish the latest political parties’ detailed statements on their assets and liabilities, sources of funds and other assets and expenditure submitted to the commission.

It also demanded the publication of political parties’ financial records, including annual statements, audited accounts and election expenditure returns for 2023–2025.

The organisation further asked INEC to publish its Section 225 and 226 examination and audit reports, including annual reports submitted to the National Assembly for 2023–2025, as well as disclose enforcement actions arising from political-finance and expenditure violations.

SERAP gave INEC seven days to provide the requested information.

“We would be grateful if the requested information is provided within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and INEC to comply with our request in the public interest,” it said.