The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the 19 presidential candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 elections to publicly declare their assets and liabilities and to commit to rejecting vote-buying before the polls.
SERAP, which made the demand in an open letter dated August 8, 2026 and signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, insisted that the presidential candidates must voluntarily disclose their assets, including those of their spouses and, where relevant, their unmarried children under 18, as well as the legitimate sources of their wealth.
The organisation argued that this would demonstrate a commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity ahead of the election, as well as helping Nigerians evaluate candidates beyond their financial influence.
The letter was addressed to President Bola Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (ADC), Peter Obi (NDC), Senator Sandy Onor (PDP), and other candidates representing various parties.
SERAP also urged all candidates to unequivocally reject vote-buying and electoral bribery, calling on their political parties, campaign teams, agents, and supporters to refrain from using money, gifts, or material incentives to sway voters.
The organisation maintained that voters should be allowed to decide whom to vote for based on a candidate’s competence, integrity, policies, and vision, rather than their financial backing.
“Candidates seeking Nigerians’ trust to hold constitutional powers over public finances, resources, appointments, and security should first demonstrate transparency about their personal finances,” it stated.
While noting that Nigerian law does not explicitly require presidential candidates to disclose assets before elections, SERAP pointed out that the 1999 Constitution supports principles of transparency and accountability and mandates elected officials to declare assets upon assuming office.
“Voluntary pre-election disclosures would help voters detect conflicts of interest and monitor changes in wealth during their tenure,” it stated.
The organisation also referenced Nigeria’s international obligations under treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees informed electoral choices.
Expressing concern about the ongoing use of money to influence votes, SERAP warned that vote-buying breaches constitutional principles, as sovereignty resides with the people.
It further pointed out that electoral bribery is criminalised under Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026 and that government authority derives from the citizens, per Section 14(2)(a) of the Constitution.
“In a context of economic hardship and widespread poverty, such practices exploit vulnerable voters and reduce elections to commercial transactions”.
The civil society organisation urged political leaders to uphold the principle that public office is a public trust. Candidates who disclose their assets and reject vote-buying can demonstrate their pledge to transparency and accountability.
SERAP also called on candidates to publish and update their assets and liabilities, disclose sources of wealth, publicly reject inducements, discourage supporters from offering bribes, report electoral bribery cases, and sign a public pledge for peaceful, transparent, and corruption-free elections.
