SERAP Sues INEC Over Political Funding Limits Ahead of 2027 Elections

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the alleged failure to disclose limits on political contributions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

SERAP, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2114/2026 filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, is asking the court to compel INEC to disclose whether it has exercised its powers under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to prescribe limits on political contributions.

The organisation is also seeking disclosure of the specific limits prescribed by the commission, if any, as well as the measures put in place to publish and communicate the limits to political parties, candidates, donors and members of the public.

According to SERAP, the disclosure is necessary to promote transparency and enable voters, journalists and civil society organisations to scrutinise political financing ahead of the 2027 elections.

The organisation is further asking the court to compel INEC to disclose the systems and procedures it has established to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with political contribution and campaign expenditure limits.

SERAP also wants the commission to publish the latest financial statements and audited accounts of political parties, including their sources of funds, assets, liabilities and election expenditure returns covering 2023 to 2025.

It is seeking the disclosure of INEC’s examination and audit reports under Sections 225 and 226, including reports submitted to the National Assembly, as well as details of enforcement actions taken over alleged political-finance violations.

The organisation also wants INEC to disclose which political parties submitted post-2023 contribution reports, the dates of submission and any action taken against parties that failed to meet statutory reporting requirements.

SERAP argued that the statutory limits on political contributions and election expenditure are intended to prevent excessive financial influence during electoral competition, rather than merely facilitate financial accounting after elections.

It further wants INEC to explain how it plans to monitor political financing during the campaign period, including cash and in-kind contributions, digital and social-media advertising, political and campaign consultants, and expenditure by third parties.

Section 91(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 gives INEC the power to limit the amount of money or other assets an individual may contribute to a political party or candidate and to demand information on the amount donated and the source of the funds. Section 91(2) provides sanctions where the applicable limits are exceeded.

SERAP said greater transparency in political financing would help Nigerians understand the rules governing campaign funding and scrutinise political expenditure before the 2027 elections.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.