The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission to court over alleged misappropriation of public funds by governors from the All Progressives Congress. SERAP filed the lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja last week, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026.
According to the rights group, APC governors diverted N800 billion from their Federation Account Allocation Committee allocations into a secret campaign fund. The money was meant to bankroll President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid, SERAP alleged in a statement.
The organisation is asking the court to compel INEC to launch a full investigation into the claims. It also wants the commission to demand that the APC and the governors involved provide complete details about the fund, including donor identities and the legitimate sources of the money.
SERAP is further seeking a court order directing INEC to conduct a comprehensive review and investigation into whether all political parties and candidates have complied with Section 91 of the Electoral Act. This section governs the sources and extent of political and campaign financing.
The rights group argued that the allegations expose serious gaps in political finance transparency and electoral fairness. It said Nigerians' constitutional right to freely participate in democratic processes is at stake.
"Opaque political financing fuels corruption and undermines democratic legitimacy," SERAP stated in its court filing. The organisation stressed that Nigerians deserve to know who funds political parties and candidates, and where that money comes from.
SERAP contended that the alleged abuse of state resources for electoral gain threatens the integrity of Nigeria's democracy. It warned that such practices erode public confidence in institutions and democratic systems.
Transparency and accountability in campaign financing are essential safeguards against corruption, the group argued. Without them, SERAP said, powerful interests can capture the state and exercise undue political influence over elected officials.
The case marks an escalation in scrutiny of campaign financing ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
