2027: Publish Your Assets Before Election, SERAP Tells Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Others

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged all 19 presidential candidates announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publicly disclose details of their assets and liabilities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Saturday, SERAP also called on the candidates to disclose the assets of their spouses and, where applicable, their unmarried children under 18.

The organisation urged the presidential candidates to disclose the legitimate sources of their significant assets and publicly commit to rejecting vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the election.

SERAP said candidates seeking Nigeria’s highest elected office should voluntarily adopt stronger standards of transparency and accountability rather than limiting themselves to the minimum requirements of the law.

The organisation argued that presidential candidates asking Nigerians to entrust them with control over public finances, natural resources, government appointments and security institutions should be prepared to subject their personal financial affairs to reasonable public scrutiny.

“Candidates asking Nigerians to entrust them with enormous constitutional powers over public finances, natural resources, appointments and security institutions should be willing, before asking for their votes, to demonstrate that their personal financial affairs can withstand reasonable public scrutiny,” SERAP said.

The group also stressed that Nigerians should be able to make informed decisions about candidates based on their records, financial interests and commitments to public accountability.

SERAP further called on the presidential candidates to reject electoral malpractice, particularly the use of money to influence voters.

It said vote-buying and electoral bribery undermine citizens’ ability to freely choose their leaders and weaken democratic institutions.

“Nigeria’s democracy belongs to its citizens. Votes must not be bought. Public office must not be treated as private property,” the organisation said.

SERAP maintained that candidates seeking the presidency should be prepared to meet the highest standards of transparency, accountability and integrity before asking Nigerians for their votes.

The 2027 presidential election is expected to feature intense competition among major political parties and presidential contenders, with issues including the economy, security, governance and accountability likely to dominate the campaign.