SERAP Sues INEC Over Alleged Diversion of N800bn by APC Governors

SERAP has sued INEC, seeking an investigation into allegations that APC governors diverted N800 billion to support President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission, seeking a court order compelling the electoral body to investigate allegations that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress diverted N800 billion for political and campaign purposes.

SERAP disclosed this in a statement, alleging that the governors were making monthly contributions from their Federation Account Allocation Committee allocations into a dedicated campaign fund to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

According to the organisation, the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, was filed last week before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The group is asking the court to issue an order of mandamus directing INEC to investigate the allegations and compel the commission to obtain full disclosure from the APC and the affected governors on the alleged campaign fund, including the identities of donors and the lawful sources of the funds.

SERAP is also seeking an order directing INEC to conduct a formal review and investigation into compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act by political parties and candidates, particularly regarding the sources and scale of campaign financing in the current election cycle.

The organisation argued that the allegations raise concerns about political finance transparency, electoral fairness and Nigerians’ constitutional right to participate freely in democratic governance.

It maintained that opaque political financing encourages corruption and undermines democratic legitimacy, stressing that Nigerians have the right to know who funds political parties and candidates, as well as the sources of such funding.

SERAP further argued that the alleged misuse of public resources for electoral purposes threatens democratic integrity and public trust, adding that transparency and accountability in campaign financing are essential to preventing corruption, state capture and undue political influence.