SERAP Sues INEC Over Alleged ₦800bn APC Campaign Fund
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court, seeking an order compelling the electoral body to investigate allegations that about ₦800 billion in public funds was channelled into political campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, asks the court to direct INEC to examine claims that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly contributed funds from their monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations into a campaign fund to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
SERAP argued that the allegations raise serious concerns about political finance transparency, accountability and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, insisting that Nigerians have a constitutional right to know how political parties and candidates are funded.
In the suit, the organisation is asking the court to order INEC to compel the APC and the affected governors to disclose whether such a campaign fund exists, identify those who made contributions and explain the lawful sources of the money allegedly paid into it.
The group also wants the electoral commission to carry out a comprehensive investigation into whether the alleged contributions violate provisions of the Electoral Act, particularly those regulating campaign financing and political donations.
According to SERAP, the alleged use of public funds for political purposes, if established, would undermine electoral fairness, weaken public confidence in democratic institutions and create an uneven playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.
The organisation maintained that INEC has both constitutional and statutory responsibilities to regulate political financing, ensure transparency in campaign donations and enforce sanctions where breaches of the law are discovered. It argued that failure to investigate such allegations could erode public trust in the country’s electoral system.
SERAP further asked the court to direct the electoral commission to strengthen monitoring of political party finances and ensure full compliance with campaign funding regulations by all political parties and candidates participating in future elections.
The civil society organisation also relied on provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption to support its argument that transparency in political financing is essential to protecting democratic governance.
No hearing date has yet been fixed for the case, which is expected to test the scope of INEC’s powers and responsibilities regarding campaign finance oversight as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.