The 19 presidential candidates listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been asked to publish their assets and liabilities before the 2027 election, even though the Constitution does not expressly require such disclosure before voting.
The request was made by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in an open letter on 8 August, 2026. The organisation also wants the candidates to disclose the legitimate sources of their significant assets and publicly reject vote-buying and electoral bribery.
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SERAP’s request covers President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and 16 other candidates listed by the organisation.
The organisation said candidates asking Nigerians to give them control over public finances, natural resources, appointments and security institutions should first allow reasonable public scrutiny of their personal financial affairs.
Disclosure before taking office
SERAP said the Constitution requires elected public officers, including the President, to declare their assets and liabilities, but does not expressly require presidential candidates to publish those records before an election.
The organisation wants the candidates to voluntarily adopt a higher standard by making their financial records public before asking Nigerians for their votes.
It said, “Candidates asking Nigerians to entrust them with enormous constitutional powers over public finances, natural resources, appointments and security institutions should be willing, before asking for their votes, to demonstrate that their personal financial affairs can withstand reasonable public scrutiny.”
SERAP also wants the candidates to disclose the assets and liabilities of their spouses and, where applicable, their unmarried children under 18.
The organisation said Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule requires public officers to submit declarations of their properties, assets and liabilities, including those of unmarried children under 18.
It also cited Section 140(1) of the Constitution, which requires a person elected President to make the prescribed declaration before assuming the functions of office.
SERAP said the constitutional provisions support principles of transparency, accountability and integrity in public office, even though they do not expressly require presidential candidates to publish their declarations before the election.
Vote-buying also under scrutiny
The organisation also wants all 19 candidates to publicly reject the use of money, gifts and other inducements to influence voters before and during the 2027 election.
SERAP said vote-buying undermines the constitutional principle that sovereignty belongs to Nigerians.
It cited Section 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, which provides that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria.
The organisation also cited Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which it said criminalises bribery and related conduct intended to secure the election of a person to public office or obtain an elector’s vote.
SERAP said, “Nigeria’s democracy belongs to its citizens. Votes must not be bought. Public office must not be treated as private property. Those seeking the highest public office must be willing to meet the highest standards of transparency, accountability and integrity.”
The 19 candidates listed by SERAP are Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Senator Sandy Onor, Omoyele Sowore, Donald Duke, Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick, Chukwu Anita Zugwai, Rufai Adekunle Omoaje and Adenuga Sunday.
The others are Memeh Samuel, Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu, Okereke Sunday Chibuzor, Okereke Iken Esther, Abbas-Bin Aliyu, Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed, Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer, Seyi Makinde and Yusuf Kabiru.
SERAP said the 2027 election gives political leaders an opportunity to show that public office is a public trust.
It said candidates who voluntarily disclose their assets and reject vote-buying can show that they are prepared to uphold the transparen cy and accountability they promise if elected.
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