Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has issued a firm seven-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission, demanding that the electoral body immediately disclose and publish the political contribution limits prescribed under Section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2026, and reveal the systems in place to monitor campaign financing ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a Freedom of Information request dated August 22, 2026, and addressed to INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, the organisation warned that the increasing monetisation of Nigeria's elections and the potential misuse of state institutions pose serious threats to democratic integrity and electoral competition. SERAP's Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, who signed the request, stressed that greater transparency in political financing is essential to ensuring that the 2027 elections are conducted on a level playing field and that citizens are able to make free and informed political choices.
The organisation's demands come at a critical juncture, with INEC having already released the Notice of Election and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 polls. Political parties, candidates and their supporters are already mobilising resources, soliciting contributions, organising political activities, purchasing media and digital advertising, holding rallies and incurring campaign-related expenditure. SERAP is now calling on INEC to urgently clarify whether the Commission has exercised its statutory power to prescribe limits on political contributions under Section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2026, and, if so, to publish the applicable limits and widely communicate them to political parties, candidates, donors and the Nigerian public. The organisation also demanded that INEC disclose the systems, personnel and procedures it has put in place to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with political contribution and campaign expenditure limits during the ongoing 2027 electoral process.
SERAP further urged INEC to disclose its methodology for monitoring political financing, including arrangements for identifying and addressing cash and in-kind contributions, digital and social-media financing, third-party expenditure, and donations through intermediaries that could potentially circumvent statutory limits. The organisation argued that voters, journalists and civil-society organisations cannot effectively scrutinise political financing if the applicable limits are not easily accessible or if there is no publicly known mechanism for monitoring compliance. The increasing monetisation of Nigeria's elections, alongside the potential misuse of state institutions, poses serious threats to democratic integrity and electoral competition. The information requested would enable citizens to identify excessive, undisclosed or potentially illicit political financing before it can distort electoral competition, rather than only after votes have been cast.
Section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2026, empowers INEC to place limitations on the amount of money or other assets which an individual can contribute to a political party or candidate, and to demand such information on the amount donated and the source of the funds. The statutory power given to INEC creates an important safeguard against excessive financial influence over political parties and candidates. Section 91(2) provides sanctions where an individual, candidate or political party exceeds the applicable limit prescribed by INEC, including fines of up to N10 million and forfeiture of the excess amount. However, SERAP has expressed concern that previous assessments of Nigeria's elections have identified significant gaps between the legal framework and its practical implementation, including concerns that spending limits can be circumvented, political-party expenditure is insufficiently regulated or transparently disclosed, and violations are rarely identified and effectively sanctioned.
The organisation's demand for transparency comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over opaque political financing in Nigeria, where political parties have a long history of failing to disclose campaign contributions. Such non-compliance has been described as systemic, while the absence of clear and effective sanctions for default has weakened INEC's ability to enforce compliance. Nigeria has long faced serious challenges in regulating political finance, including concerns about excessive campaign spending, opaque sources of political funding, weak disclosure and reporting, and limited enforcement of statutory spending and contribution rules. SERAP has previously called on INEC to investigate allegations that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress diverted about N800 billion from Federation Account Allocation Committee funds for political and campaign purposes, and has instituted a lawsuit over the commission's alleged failure to probe the matter.
SERAP has also cited Section 91(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides that the Commission shall have power to place limitation on the amount of money or other assets which an individual can contribute to a political party or candidate and to demand such information on the amount donated and the source of the funds. The organisation urged INEC to clarify whether it had exercised the power and, if so, immediately publish the applicable contribution limits in a prominent and easily accessible location, including on its website. SERAP also requested the latest detailed statements by political parties on their assets and liabilities, sources of funds and other assets and expenditure submitted to INEC, and asked the commission to publish the parties' financial records.
In its request, SERAP emphasised that INEC's constitutional responsibility is not simply to receive financial statements from political parties. The Constitution requires the Commission to examine political-party finances, conduct necessary investigations and report to the National Assembly. Publishing these reports would enable Nigerians to know whether these constitutional and statutory responsibilities have been effectively discharged. The organisation warned that the allegations of diversion or opaque use of public funds pose a grave risk to the integrity of the 2027 general elections, and that any misuse of public resources for political purposes would violate constitutional provisions, international treaties and Nigeria's anti-corruption obligations. SERAP has given INEC seven days to respond and implement the recommended actions, warning that it would initiate legal proceedings if no action is taken.
As the 2027 election season gathers momentum, the pressure is now on INEC to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and accountability in political financing. The commission's response to SERAP's demands will be closely watched by civil society organisations, political parties, candidates and the Nigerian public, who are increasingly concerned about the influence of money in politics and the integrity of the electoral process. The question now is whether INEC will seize this opportunity to strengthen its regulatory framework and restore public confidence in the electoral system, or whether it will remain silent in the face of growing concerns about the monetisation of Nigeria's democracy. The next seven days will be critical in determining the course of political financing regulation ahead of the 2027 elections.
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