The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding a court order to compel the electoral body to investigate claims that governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) diverted N800 billion from public funds for political and campaign purposes. The legal action, filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, alleges that these governors are funneling monthly allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) into a dedicated campaign fund to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. SERAP is seeking judicial intervention to ensure transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The lawsuit specifically calls for an order of mandamus, which would require INEC to conduct a formal investigation into the allegations. SERAP is also demanding that INEC request full disclosure from the APC and the implicated governors, including details on the identities of donors and the lawful sources of the funds used for the campaign. The group insists that such information is essential to uphold electoral integrity and protect the public’s right to know how political financing is managed.
SERAP’s legal action also seeks a directive for INEC to review and investigate compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act, which governs political and campaign financing. This provision mandates transparency in the sources and scale of funding for political parties and candidates. The organisation argues that the alleged misuse of public resources for electoral purposes poses a serious threat to democratic legitimacy and public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.
According to SERAP, opaque political financing fuels corruption and undermines the fairness of elections. The group maintains that Nigerians have a constitutional right to participate freely in democratic governance, which includes the right to know who funds political parties and candidates. Without transparency, the risk of state capture and undue political influence increases, weakening democratic institutions.
The lawsuit highlights growing concerns about the misuse of public funds in Nigeria’s political landscape. SERAP emphasizes that accountability in campaign financing is critical to preventing corruption and ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and openly. The outcome of this legal challenge could set a precedent for future electoral oversight in Nigeria.
As the case proceeds, it will be closely watched by civil society groups, legal experts, and the public, who are increasingly demanding greater transparency in political financing. The court’s decision may influence how INEC enforces electoral laws and how political parties manage their campaign funds in the future.
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