The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose and publish the limits placed on political contributions under the Electoral Act, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan.
The organisation said the request had become particularly important as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, noting that INEC had already released the Notice of Election, as well as the timetable and schedule of activities for the polls.
SERAP urged the electoral commission to clarify whether it had exercised its statutory power to prescribe limits on political contributions under Section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2026.
It said that, if the limits had been prescribed, INEC should immediately publish them and widely communicate the applicable rules to political parties, candidates, donors and the Nigerian public.
The organisation said, “INEC should urgently disclose 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.”
SERAP seeks details of monitoring mechanisms
Beyond the publication of contribution limits, SERAP called on INEC to disclose the systems, personnel and procedures it had put in place to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with political contribution and campaign expenditure limits during preparations for the 2027 elections.
The organisation also asked the commission to explain its methodology for monitoring political financing, particularly how it would track cash and in-kind contributions, digital and social-media financing, third-party expenditure and donations made through intermediaries.
According to SERAP, transparency in political financing is necessary to ensure that the 2027 elections are conducted on a level playing field and that voters can make free and informed choices.
The organisation argued that INEC’s constitutional responsibility extends beyond receiving financial statements from political parties.
“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,” SERAP said.
It added that publishing financial reports would enable Nigerians to assess whether INEC had effectively discharged its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
Concern over monetisation of elections
SERAP expressed concern over what it described as the increasing monetisation of elections in Nigeria, warning that excessive or opaque political financing could undermine democratic competition.
The organisation said the information it was seeking would enable citizens and relevant institutions to identify excessive, undisclosed or potentially illicit political financing before such activities could influence electoral outcomes.
“The increasing monetisation of Nigeria’s elections, alongside the potential misuse of state institutions, poses serious threats to democratic integrity and electoral competition,” it said.
SERAP noted that political parties, candidates and their supporters were already mobilising resources, soliciting contributions, organising political activities, purchasing media and digital advertising, holding rallies and incurring other campaign-related expenses ahead of the 2027 elections.
It therefore urged INEC to explain how it intended to monitor such activities throughout the election cycle.
The organisation specifically called for greater scrutiny of cash and in-kind contributions, digital and social-media advertising, payments to political consultants and third-party campaign expenditure.
SERAP cites Electoral Act provisions
SERAP also drew attention to Section 91(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which empowers INEC to place limits on the amount of money or other assets an individual may contribute to a political party or candidate and to demand information on the amount donated and the source of the funds.
It noted that Section 91(2) provides sanctions where an individual, candidate or political party exceeds the applicable contribution limit prescribed by the commission.
According to the organisation, the provision gives INEC an important tool for preventing excessive financial influence over political parties and candidates.
SERAP consequently urged INEC to clarify whether it had exercised the power granted to it under the law.
If the commission had already prescribed contribution limits, the organisation asked it to publish them prominently and make them easily accessible, including through its official website.
Request for political parties’ financial records
SERAP further called on INEC to publish the latest detailed financial statements submitted by political parties, including information on their assets, liabilities, sources of funds and expenditure.
It also requested the publication of parties’ annual statements, audited accounts and election expenditure returns covering the 2023–2025 period.
In addition, the organisation asked the commission to publish its examination and audit reports under Sections 225 and 226, as well as annual reports submitted to the National Assembly during the same period.
SERAP said Nigeria continued to face significant challenges in regulating political finance, including excessive campaign spending, opaque funding sources, weak disclosure mechanisms and limited enforcement of existing rules.
“Nigeria has a persistent problem of political parties 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,” the organisation said.
