The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged failure to disclose information on political party finances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The suit, filed under number FHC/ABJ/CS/2114/2026, followed INEC’s alleged failure to clarify whether it has exercised its powers under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to prescribe limits on financial contributions to political parties and candidates.
SERAP is asking the court to compel INEC to disclose whether contribution limits have been prescribed, the specific limits applicable and the steps taken to make the information available to political parties, candidates, donors and the public.
The organisation is also seeking details of the systems and procedures INEC has put in place to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with political contribution and campaign spending limits ahead of the 2027 elections.
SERAP further wants INEC to publish the latest financial statements and audited accounts of political parties, including their sources of funds, assets, liabilities and election expenditure returns covering 2023 to 2025.
It also asked the court to compel the electoral commission to disclose examination and audit reports on political parties’ finances, as well as details of enforcement actions taken against parties that violated political finance regulations.
According to SERAP, transparency in political financing is necessary to enable voters, journalists and civil society organisations to monitor campaign spending and assess whether political parties and candidates are complying with the law.
The organisation also wants INEC to disclose the political parties that submitted post-2023 election contribution reports, the dates of submission and actions taken against parties that failed to meet statutory reporting requirements.
SERAP said political parties, candidates and their supporters were already mobilising funds, organising political activities, purchasing media and digital advertisements and incurring campaign-related expenses ahead of the 2027 elections.
The organisation is therefore asking INEC to explain how it intends to monitor cash and non-cash contributions, digital advertising, political consultants and third-party campaign spending.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
