The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its alleged failure to disclose limits on political contributions under section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026. SERAP argues that the non-disclosure of these limits leaves Nigerians unclear about the rules governing political donations. The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks an order of mandamus to direct INEC to disclose the limits prescribed and measures taken to publish and communicate them to political parties, candidates, donors, and the public.
SERAP is also seeking an order of mandamus to direct INEC to disclose the systems and procedures in place to monitor, investigate, and enforce compliance with prescribed limits on political contributions and campaign expenditure. The organization argues that greater transparency in political financing is essential to ensuring that the 2027 elections are conducted on a level playing field. This, SERAP contends, will enable citizens to make free and informed political choices.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi, Andrew Nwankwo, and Valentina Adegoke, argues that INEC's constitutional responsibility is not simply to receive financial statements from political parties. The Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires INEC to examine political-party finances, conduct necessary investigations, and report to the National Assembly. Publishing these reports, SERAP argues, would enable Nigerians to know whether these constitutional and statutory responsibilities have been effectively discharged.
SERAP's lawsuit highlights concerns about the increasing monetization of Nigeria's elections and the potential misuse of state institutions, which poses serious threats to democratic integrity and electoral competition. The organization argues that voters, journalists, and civil-society organizations cannot effectively scrutinize political financing if the applicable limits are not easily accessible or if there is no publicly known mechanism for monitoring compliance.
The lawsuit also notes that Nigeria has a persistent problem of political parties failing to disclose campaign contributions, which has been described as systemic. The absence of clear and effective sanctions for default has weakened INEC's ability to enforce compliance. Previous assessments of Nigeria's elections have identified significant gaps between the legal framework and its practical implementation, including concerns that spending limits can be circumvented and violations are rarely identified and effectively sanctioned.
SERAP is seeking to compel INEC to disclose and publish the political-contribution limits prescribed under section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as political parties' latest financial statements, audited accounts, sources of funds, assets, liabilities, and election-expenditure returns for 2023–2025. The organization also wants INEC to disclose its examination and audit reports under sections 225 and 226, including reports submitted to the National Assembly, and details of enforcement action taken for political-finance violations.
The reliefs sought by SERAP would enable citizens to identify excessive, undisclosed, or potentially illicit political financing before it can distort electoral competition. Effective political-finance regulation is an important safeguard for constitutional democracy, equality of political participation, freedom of expression and association, electoral integrity, and citizens' meaningful participation in public affairs.
Key points
- SERAP files lawsuit against INEC over failure to disclose political donation limits.
- Non-disclosure of limits leaves Nigerians unclear about rules governing political donations.
- Lawsuit seeks order of mandamus to direct INEC to disclose prescribed limits and measures taken to publish and communicate them.
