The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose how it intends to monitor political donations and campaign spending ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a Freedom of Information request dated August 22, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged INEC to clarify whether it has established limits on political contributions under the Electoral Act, 2026.
The organisation also asked the electoral commission to publicly release the applicable limits and ensure that political parties, candidates, donors and members of the public have access to the information.
SERAP said greater transparency was necessary to prevent excessive financial influence from undermining the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
The group asked INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to disclose the systems, personnel and procedures established to monitor compliance with political contribution and campaign expenditure limits.
It also wants the commission to explain how it plans to monitor both cash and non-cash donations, digital fundraising, social media financing, third-party expenditure and contributions made through intermediaries.
According to SERAP, Nigerians deserve to know how political financing will be monitored before the 2027 elections, rather than waiting until after the polls to examine financial records.
The organisation stressed that INEC’s responsibility goes beyond merely receiving financial statements from political parties. It argued that the Constitution empowers the commission to examine party finances, conduct necessary investigations and submit reports to the National Assembly.
SERAP expressed concern about what it described as the continued failure of political parties to adequately disclose campaign contributions.
The organisation maintained that Nigeria has continued to struggle with excessive campaign expenditure, unclear sources of political funding, inadequate disclosure and weak enforcement of political-finance regulations.
It further warned that existing spending and contribution limits could be bypassed if INEC lacks effective monitoring mechanisms and sanctions for violations.
SERAP argued that campaign finance limits should not be regarded merely as accounting requirements to be reviewed after elections. Instead, it said the limits are intended to prevent excessive financial influence during the electoral process.
The organisation warned that it would consider legal action against INEC if the commission fails to provide the requested information within seven days of receiving or publishing the request.
SERAP’s Key Demands From INEC
SERAP is asking INEC to:
- Disclose and publish all political contribution limits prescribed under Section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2026.
- Release the latest detailed financial statements submitted by political parties, including information on their assets, liabilities, sources of funds, expenditures and other assets.
- Publish political parties’ financial records covering 2023 to 2025, including annual financial statements, audited accounts and election expenditure returns.
- Make public INEC’s examination and audit reports under Sections 225 and 226, including annual reports submitted to the National Assembly between 2023 and 2025.
- Disclose enforcement measures taken against political parties, candidates or other entities over violations of political-finance and campaign-spending regulations.
- Publish INEC’s 2027 political-finance monitoring strategy, including plans for real-time or near-real-time monitoring and cooperation with anti-corruption agencies, financial-intelligence bodies, regulators and law-enforcement authorities.
- Identify political parties that submitted reports of contributions received after the 2023 elections, including the dates of submission and actions taken against parties that failed to meet the statutory deadline.
SERAP’s latest demand comes as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, with the organisation insisting that transparent political financing is essential to protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
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