The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its alleged failure to disclose political contribution limits ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2114/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by SERAP’s lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke.
No hearing date has been fixed.
SERAP 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 and, if so, publish the specific limits.
The Electoral Act 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.
SERAP demands details of INEC monitoring system
SERAP is also 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.
The organisation said the information is important as political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 elections.
“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,” SERAP said.
The organisation further wants INEC to publish the latest financial statements, audited accounts, sources of funds, assets, liabilities and election expenditure returns of political parties covering 2023 to 2025.
It is also seeking details of INEC’s examination and audit reports, including reports submitted to the National Assembly, as well as enforcement actions taken over alleged political-finance violations.
Political funding transparency
SERAP said voters, journalists and civil society organisations could struggle to scrutinise political financing effectively if contribution limits and compliance mechanisms are not publicly accessible.
The organisation wants INEC to disclose how any contribution limits were determined and explain how it intends to monitor different forms of political financing during the campaign period.
These include cash and in-kind contributions, digital and social-media advertising, political consultants and third-party campaign expenditure.
Under the Electoral Act 2026, political parties are required to submit annual statements detailing their assets, liabilities, sources of funds and expenditure. INEC is also empowered to examine party records and audited accounts, with the law requiring the Commission to publish reports of such examinations and audits.
SERAP had previously asked INEC in August to disclose its position on political contribution limits and its campaign-finance monitoring arrangements before filing the lawsuit.
