The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking a court order compelling the electoral body to investigate allegations that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) diverted about N800 billion for political and campaign purposes.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, alleges that the governors have been contributing portions of their monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations into a special fund to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Filed by SERAP’s legal team, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, the case asks the court to compel INEC to investigate the allegations and require both the APC and the governors to disclose the identities of contributors, the amount raised and the source of the funds.
SERAP is also urging the court to direct INEC to determine whether political parties and candidates are complying with the campaign finance provisions of Section 91 of the Electoral Act.
According to the organisation, the allegations raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability and fairness in Nigeria’s electoral process, warning that secretive political financing encourages corruption and weakens democratic institutions.
It argued that Nigerians have a right to know who finances political parties and candidates, stressing that the alleged use of public resources for campaign activities could erode confidence in the electoral system.
SERAP maintained that INEC has both constitutional and statutory responsibilities to monitor campaign financing, enforce spending limits and ensure transparency in political funding.
The organisation warned that the alleged diversion of public funds poses a significant threat to the credibility of the 2027 general elections, adding that misuse of state resources gives unfair advantage to political parties and candidates.
In its court filings, SERAP cited relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, arguing that these laws require public institutions to uphold transparency, accountability and fairness in elections.
It further contended that using public resources for political campaigns amounts not only to financial misconduct but also distorts the level playing field expected in a democratic election.
SERAP insisted that the legal frameworks binding on Nigeria obligate INEC to safeguard the integrity of elections by ensuring full disclosure of political funding and preventing abuse of public resources.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.