SERAP Takes INEC to Court Over Political Donation Rules Ahead of 2027
SERAP has sued INEC over the disclosure and enforcement of political-contribution limits, asking the Federal High Court to compel greater transparency in party finances ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Money Behind the Election
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has taken the Independent National Electoral Commission to the Federal High Court in Abuja over what it describes as inadequate disclosure of political-contribution limits and party-finance information ahead of the 2027 elections.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2114/2026, asks the court to compel INEC to disclose the contribution limits prescribed under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026, how those limits are communicated to political parties, candidates and donors, and the mechanisms available to monitor and enforce compliance.
What SERAP Wants From INEC
SERAP is also asking the commission to disclose political parties' financial statements, audited accounts, sources of funds, assets, liabilities and election-expenditure returns covering 2023 to 2025.
The organisation further wants information on INEC's examination and audit of party finances, including reports submitted to the National Assembly and enforcement action taken over political-finance violations. It argues that voters and civil-society organisations cannot effectively scrutinise campaign financing when the applicable rules and enforcement mechanisms are difficult to establish.
But there is an important detail behind the dispute. INEC's 2026 Regulations and Guidelines already provide that an individual, group or entity may donate up to N500 million to a political party or aspirant, subject to the disclosure requirements set out in the regulations.
The question before the court is therefore not simply whether political donations are regulated, but whether INEC has adequately disclosed, communicated and prepared to enforce the rules.
A Test of Electoral Financial Transparency
The case arrives as parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 elections, when fundraising, advertising, rallies and digital campaigning are expected to intensify.
SERAP wants the court to require INEC to show how it intends to monitor not only direct donations but also campaign expenditure, digital advertising, consultants and third-party spending.
No hearing date has been fixed.
For the electoral system, the case raises a wider question: are Nigeria's campaign-finance rules merely rules on paper, or can voters actually see who is financing political competition and how the regulator is enforcing the limits?
Was this story helpful?
Responses (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.