The organisation is also seeking an order compelling the commission to obtain full disclosure from the governors and the APC regarding any contributions made to campaign-related funds, including the identities of donors and the sources of the money.

A photo combination of SERAP’s logo and Iogo.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed 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 ₦800 billion from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds for political and campaign activities.

According to a statement by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, reports had alleged that APC governors were making monthly deductions from their FAAC allocations into a dedicated fund purportedly meant to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026 and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to direct INEC to probe the allegations and determine whether any provisions of Nigeria’s electoral laws have been breached.

The organisation is also seeking an order compelling the commission to obtain full disclosure from the governors and the APC regarding any contributions made to campaign-related funds, including the identities of donors and the sources of the money.

In addition, SERAP wants the court to mandate INEC to conduct a broader review of compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act, particularly regarding campaign financing, political donations, and the sources of funds used by political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The suit, filed on behalf of SERAP by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, argues that the allegations raise serious concerns about transparency, electoral fairness, and the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.

According to the organisation, opaque campaign financing creates opportunities for corruption and undermines public confidence in elections.

“These allegations raise serious concerns about political finance transparency, electoral fairness, and the constitutional right of Nigerians to participate freely in their own government,” SERAP said.

The group maintained that Nigerians have a right to know who finances political parties and candidates, stressing that transparency in political funding is essential to preventing corruption, undue influence, and state capture.

SERAP argued that the alleged diversion of public funds for political purposes, if proven, would amount to an abuse of state resources and could compromise the credibility of the 2027 elections.

“The allegations of diversion or opaque use of public funds pose a grave risk to the integrity of the 2027 general elections,” the suit stated.

It further contended that large public financial flows, combined with weak disclosure and oversight mechanisms, provide sufficient grounds for INEC to activate its constitutional and statutory powers to investigate the matter.

Citing Section 91 of the Electoral Act, SERAP noted that INEC is empowered to regulate political donations, demand disclosure of funding sources, and sanction individuals or parties that exceed prescribed contribution limits.

The organisation said the law provides penalties, including fines and forfeiture of excess funds, for political parties and individuals found to have violated donation limits.

SERAP also relied on provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, 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 instruments impose obligations on public institutions to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in electoral processes.

According to the group, any deployment of public funds for partisan political purposes would not only amount to financial misconduct but would also distort electoral competition and deny citizens a level playing field in choosing their leaders.

SERAP accused INEC of failing to proactively enforce constitutional and electoral safeguards designed to prevent political finance abuses, warning that continued inaction could erode public trust in the country’s electoral system.

“No individual or political party should be allowed to exceed legally prescribed contribution limits, whether directly or indirectly, and there must be full transparency regarding the origin and scale of political funding,” the organisation argued.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.