The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to disclose how it is overseeing political financing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2114/2026, the organisation is asking the court to direct INEC to disclose whether it has exercised its powers under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to impose limits on donations to political parties and candidates.
SERAP also wants the commission to publish any donation limits it has established and explain the measures it has adopted to monitor and enforce compliance by political parties, candidates and donors.
The organisation is further seeking details of INEC’s systems for tracking political donations and campaign expenditure, including cash and non-cash contributions, digital advertising and spending by third parties.
SERAP said access to information on political financing was important ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly as parties and candidates engage in fundraising and campaign-related activities.
It is also asking the court to compel INEC to publish the latest financial statements and audited accounts of political parties, covering their sources of funds, assets, liabilities and election expenditure returns for the 2023 to 2025 period.
The organisation wants INEC to disclose its examination and audit reports on political parties, including reports submitted to the National Assembly, as well as measures taken in response to alleged breaches of political-finance regulations.
SERAP argued that INEC’s constitutional responsibilities include examining the finances of political parties and reporting its findings, citing Sections 225 and 226 of the Constitution.
The organisation maintained that Section 91(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 gives INEC the power to limit the amount of money or other assets an individual may donate to a political party or candidate.
It is therefore asking the court to determine whether INEC has exercised the power and, where applicable, require the commission to make the limits and enforcement mechanisms public.
The suit was filed by SERAP’s lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
