Rights group asks court to compel electoral commission to investigate APC governors and enforce campaign finance transparency ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court, seeking an investigation into allegations that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) diverted about ₦800 billion from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds for political and campaign activities.
In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to compel INEC to investigate the allegations and determine whether any provisions of the Electoral Act were violated.
The organisation also wants the commission to obtain full disclosure from the APC and the affected governors on contributions made to campaign funds, including the identities of donors and the sources of the money.
SERAP further urged the court to direct INEC to review compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act on campaign financing, political donations and funding sources ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to SERAP, the allegations raise serious concerns about transparency, electoral fairness and the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process, warning that the alleged use of public funds for partisan political purposes could undermine public confidence in the electoral system.
The organisation argued that Nigerians have a constitutional right to know who finances political parties and candidates, insisting that transparency in campaign funding is essential to preventing corruption and undue political influence.
SERAP also accused INEC of failing to proactively enforce campaign finance regulations, stressing that no political party or individual should be allowed to exceed legally prescribed donation limits without accountability.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.