SERAP Sues INEC Over ₦126.46bn Electoral Funds

SERAP has sued INEC over more than ₦126.46 billion in public funds appropriated for electoral operations that the group says were diverted, lost, mismanaged or otherwise left unaccounted for. In a statement published on 18 October, SERAP said it filed suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2507/2026 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The group is asking the court to compel INEC to disclose how the funds were spent, including amounts released and paid, payment beneficiaries, contractors and their beneficial owners. SERAP says the money was meant for ballot boxes, electoral devices and materials, result sheets, vehicles, accreditation devices, audit and consultancy work, digital archiving and other election-related goods and services.

SERAP says its case relies on the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2023 audited report, published on 7 August 2026. It says the audit findings cover spending from January to December 2022 and, in some instances, through 31 December 2023. The group cites an alleged ₦112.16bn in payments for ballot boxes and other election materials made without competitive bidding or a Bureau of Public Procurement certificate of no objection.

SERAP also cites audit allegations of ₦1.058bn paid for Toyota Prado vehicles without advertising or competitive bidding; ₦3.137bn paid to four contractors before contracts were awarded; and ₦9.246bn across 22 contracts allegedly split to circumvent procurement procedures. These are allegations in the audit findings cited by SERAP.

The group wants INEC to provide evidence that the goods and services were delivered, preserve equipment and other public assets covered by the audit, and publish the names of contractors, suppliers and officials connected to the transactions. SERAP says transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections is important for public confidence. Its statement says no hearing date has been fixed.