The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the 19 presidential candidates listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publicly declare their assets and liabilities ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
In an open letter dated August 8, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP also asked the candidates to disclose relevant financial interests of their spouses and unmarried children below 18, explain the sources of significant wealth and reject vote-buying.
The group wants candidates to direct their parties, campaign organizations, agents and supporters not to offer cash, gifts, food, transport benefits or other inducements in exchange for votes.
It also urged them to report credible allegations involving their campaign structures and sign public integrity pledges.
The 19 candidates are Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Chukwu Anita Zugwai of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Rufai Adekunle Omoaje of the Action Alliance (AA) and Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party.
Others are Memeh Samuel of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA), Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Okereke Sunday Chibuzor of the Labour Party (LP), Okereke Iken Esther of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Allied Democratic Party (ADP), Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
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SERAP said voluntary disclosure would allow voters to assess potential conflicts of interest and establish a benchmark for monitoring significant changes in the wealth of anyone elected.
It acknowledged that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, does not expressly require presidential candidates to publish asset declarations before an election, but cited Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule on asset declarations by public officers and Section 140(1), which requires a President-elect to make the prescribed declaration before assuming office.
The organization also cited Section 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, which vests sovereignty in the people, and Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026 in its argument against electoral bribery.
SERAP said vote-buying could compromise voters’ freedom of choice, particularly amid economic hardship.
The latest demand echoes SERAP’s intervention ahead of the 2023 presidential election, when it similarly urged candidates, including Tinubu, Atiku and Obi, to disclose their assets and reject vote-buying.
INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, with campaigns set to begin on August 19, 2026.
SERAP said the election should enable Nigerians to choose their next president based on policies, competence, character and integrity, rather than financial muscle.