NEWS
SERAP Gives INEC 7 Days To Account For ₦126.46bn Electoral Funds, Threatens Legal Action
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a seven-day ultimatum to account for more than ₦126.46 billion in public funds appropriated for electoral operations, alleging that the money was “diverted, lost, mismanaged or otherwise unaccounted for.”
The organisation said the funds were linked to the procurement of ballot boxes, electoral devices and materials, sensitive electoral materials, result sheets and other goods and services considered essential to the conduct and administration of elections in Nigeria.
SERAP’s demand was contained in a statement issued on Saturday, September 12, 2026, by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
The organisation based its concerns on findings contained in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which was published on August 7, 2026. The audit examined government transactions between January and December 2022, with some findings extending to December 31, 2023.
SERAP called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and the commission to provide a comprehensive account of the funds, including the amounts paid, beneficiaries of the payments, contracts and procurement procedures followed, contractors and suppliers involved, as well as evidence showing the delivery, utilisation and present status of the goods, services and electoral assets concerned.
“SERAP urged INEC to account for the over ₦126 billion, including the amounts paid, the beneficiaries of the payments, the contracts and procurement processes, the contractors and suppliers involved, and evidence of delivery, utilisation and the current status of the goods, services and electoral assets concerned,” the statement partly read.
The organisation further called on the INEC chairman and the commission “to refer the alleged diversion, unlawful expenditure, procurement violations and other financial misconduct documented by the Auditor-General to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation, prosecution and recovery.”
SERAP also demanded that those responsible for the alleged financial irregularities be identified, including public officials, contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants.
It said Amupitan and INEC should “identify the public officials, contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants responsible and take all necessary steps to recover any of the over ₦126 billion found to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid, lost, diverted, or paid for goods and services not supplied or properly utilised.”
According to SERAP, the allegations are particularly serious because the funds were appropriated for the administration of Nigeria’s electoral system, making accountability over the expenditure critical to public confidence in the electoral process.
The organisation said, “Electoral resources are public resources. INEC must be able to account for every naira, demonstrate that it was lawfully spent and show that it served the purposes for which it was appropriated.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.”
SERAP further described the Auditor-General’s findings as troubling given INEC’s constitutional responsibilities and the importance of its activities to Nigeria’s democratic system.
The organisation stated that “these findings are particularly disturbing given the constitutional importance of INEC and the fact that the expenditure concerns resources appropriated for the administration of Nigeria’s electoral system.
“These findings suggest a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), national anti-corruption laws, and the country’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption.
Among the specific findings highlighted by SERAP was an alleged payment of more than ₦112 billion for ballot boxes, electoral devices, items and materials.
“According to the Auditor-General, INEC ‘irregularly paid’ over ₦112 billion [₦112,155,597,845.00] ‘for ballot boxes, electoral devices, items and materials without competitive bidding or a BPP Certificate of No Objection.’”
“The Auditor-General found ‘no evidence that the items were procured.’ The ‘contracts were awarded to companies whose competences, experience, capacities, addresses and factory locations were unknown.’ He is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered.”
SERAP also drew attention to an alleged payment of more than ₦1 billion for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 Model vehicles.
“INEC also ‘paid over ₦1 billion [₦1,058,925,000.00] for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 Model without advertisement, competitive bidding, bid evaluation or a BPP Certificate of No Objection.’ The Auditor-General fears that the money ‘may have been lost’ and that the contracts ‘may have been inflated.’
The organisation further cited an alleged payment of more than ₦3.1 billion to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets.
“INEC ‘paid over ₦3 billion [₦3,136,806,050.00] to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were awarded, with no evidence of payment.’ The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.
Another issue raised involved 22 contracts reportedly covering similar goods and services.
“INEC also ‘paid over ₦9 billion [₦9,245,965,502.60] for 22 contracts for similar goods and services’, with the contracts ‘split to circumvent procurement procedures and awarded on the same day.’ The Auditor-General said the money ‘may have been lost’ and that ‘the payment may have been made for items not supplied.’
SERAP also pointed to payments made to accounting firms for financial audit services.
“INEC ‘paid over ₦129 million [₦129,375,000.00] to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services without evidence of utilisation or requests and expenditure by the consultants.’ The Auditor-General raised concerns that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury,” among others.
Beyond seeking explanations and possible recovery of funds, SERAP urged INEC to preserve all electoral equipment, materials and other public assets connected to the Auditor-General’s findings until the issues are fully reconciled and investigated.
The organisation urged that “no electoral equipment, material or other public asset covered by the Auditor-General’s findings is disposed of, transferred, destroyed, written off or otherwise dealt with in a manner that could frustrate accountability or recovery pending completion of the reconciliation and any resulting investigation.”
It also insisted that any investigation should extend beyond INEC officials to private companies and individuals who may have benefited from the transactions.
“Any referral to the EFCC and ICPC should expressly cover the contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants who irregularly received public funds, as well as any INEC officials or other public officials who authorised, processed, facilitated or benefited from the transactions.
SERAP said the proposed investigations should establish whether the goods and services paid for were actually delivered, whether the amounts paid corresponded with what was supplied and whether procurement contracts were deliberately divided to evade established procurement requirements.
“The recommended investigations should determine, among other things: whether the contracted goods and services were actually supplied; whether payments corresponded with goods and services actually delivered; and whether contracts were deliberately split to circumvent procurement requirements,” among others.
The organisation anchored its demand partly on constitutional provisions requiring public institutions to uphold transparency and combat corruption.
SERAP cautioned that “Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions, including INEC, to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on INEC to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Constitution.”
The seven-day ultimatum now puts the electoral commission under pressure to respond to the audit findings and the demands for clarification, accountability and possible recovery of public funds. SERAP warned that failure to respond within the stipulated period could lead to legal action aimed at compelling INEC to comply in the public interest.