The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging a failure to account for ₦55.9 billion intended for election materials during the 2019 general elections.
The allegations, based on the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2025 annual report, were highlighted by SERAP on its official X handle on Sunday. The suit, filed last Friday before the Federal High Court under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026, seeks a court order compelling INEC to provide a full accounting of the funds.
According to SERAP, the funds were earmarked for the procurement of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets, and other essential election materials. The organisation’s lawyers — Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo — described the Auditor-General’s findings as a “grave violation of public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), and international anti-corruption standards.”
In the legal filing, SERAP is demanding that INEC disclose:
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The names of all contractors paid from the ₦55.9 billion,
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The directors and shareholders of the contractors,
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Evidence of delivery of the materials and compliance with procurement regulations.
SERAP warned that unresolved allegations of financial misconduct could undermine future elections and called for prosecution of those involved, along with the recovery of any misappropriated funds.
“INEC cannot properly carry out its constitutional responsibilities to conduct free and fair elections if it continues to fail to uphold basic principles of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law,” SERAP said, stressing that corruption in election procurement directly threatens Nigerians’ right to participate in credible elections.
The Auditor-General’s report cited several irregularities, including:
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₦5.3 billion paid to a contractor for smart card readers without approvals from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) or the Federal Executive Council, and without evidence that the supplies were delivered. INEC reportedly argued that the purchase was a national security exemption, a claim the Auditor-General rejected.
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₦4.5 billion paid to six contractors for ballot papers and result sheets without documentation or proof of eligibility, including tax and pension compliance certificates.
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Over ₦331 million in questionable payments, failure to remit over ₦2.1 billion in stamp duties, and non-retirement of more than ₦630 million in staff cash advances.
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Awarding contracts exceeding ₦41 billion for election materials without due process or verification of contractor competence.
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A ₦297 million contract for four Toyota Land Cruisers, despite market values showing the vehicles were worth far less.
The Auditor-General recommended that the funds be recovered and remitted to the treasury, citing repeated instances where money may have been diverted.
As of now, no hearing date has been fixed for the suit, which SERAP says is critical for ensuring INEC operates with full transparency and upholds Nigeria’s electoral integrity.
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