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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose whether it has exercised its statutory powers to prescribe limits on political donations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP, in a Freedom of Information request dated August 22, 2026, also asked INEC to publish any applicable contribution limits and widely communicate them to political parties, candidates, donors and the Nigerian public.
The organisation further demanded details of the systems, personnel and procedures put in place by the electoral commission to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with political contribution and campaign expenditure limits during the ongoing 2027 electoral process.
Signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the request also sought details of INEC’s methodology for monitoring political financing, including cash and in-kind donations, digital and social media financing, third-party expenditure and contributions made through intermediaries.
SERAP said greater transparency in political financing was essential to ensuring a level playing field among political parties and candidates, as well as enabling citizens to make free and informed political choices.
The organisation said INEC’s responsibility went beyond receiving financial statements from political parties, stressing that the Constitution requires the commission to examine party finances, conduct necessary investigations and report its findings to the National Assembly.
It warned that the increasing monetisation of elections and potential misuse of state institutions posed serious threats to democratic integrity and fair electoral competition.
According to SERAP, voters, journalists and civil society organisations cannot effectively scrutinise political financing where contribution limits are not readily accessible or where there is no publicly known mechanism for monitoring compliance.
The organisation expressed concern over what it described as persistent weaknesses in Nigeria’s political finance regime, including excessive campaign spending, opaque sources of funding, inadequate disclosure and limited enforcement of statutory rules.
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SERAP said it remained unclear whether INEC had prescribed, clearly published and effectively monitored applicable contribution limits under the Electoral Act, 2026.
It specifically referred to Section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2026, which empowers INEC to place limits on the amount of money or other assets that an individual may contribute to a political party or candidate.
The organisation noted that the law also provides sanctions where individuals, candidates or political parties exceed applicable limits prescribed by the commission.
Among its demands, SERAP asked INEC to publish any political contribution limits prescribed under the law and disclose detailed statements of political parties’ assets, liabilities, sources of funds and expenditure.
It also urged the commission to publish political parties’ annual financial statements, audited accounts and election expenditure returns for 2023 to 2025, as well as relevant examination and audit reports submitted to the National Assembly.
SERAP gave INEC seven days from the receipt or publication of its request to provide the information.
It warned that failure by the commission to respond within the stipulated period would compel the organisation to take appropriate legal action to enforce compliance.
The request comes amid growing concerns over the rising cost of political campaigns and the influence of money on electoral competition ahead of the 2027 elections, with civil society groups increasingly demanding greater transparency and accountability in political party financing.
