The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently disclose whether it has exercised its statutory power to prescribe limits on political contributions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP made the call in a statement on Sunday, urging INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to publish any applicable limits under Section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2026, and widely communicate them to political parties, candidates, donors and Nigerians.
The organisation also called on INEC to disclose the systems, personnel and procedures it has put in place to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with political contribution and campaign expenditure limits during the ongoing 2027 electoral process.
SERAP further urged the electoral commission to make public its methodology for monitoring political financing, including measures for identifying and addressing cash and in-kind contributions, digital and social media financing, third-party expenditure and donations made through intermediaries that could potentially be used to circumvent statutory limits.
According to SERAP, greater transparency in political financing is essential to ensuring that the 2027 elections are conducted on a level playing field and that citizens are able to make free and informed political choices.
The organisation stressed that INEC’s constitutional responsibility goes beyond merely receiving financial statements from political parties.
READ ALSO:Â SERAP Urges 19 Presidential Candidates To Publish Assets Before 2027 Election
SERAP noted that the Constitution requires the commission to examine the finances of political parties, conduct necessary investigations and submit reports to the National Assembly.
It therefore called on INEC to publish such reports, saying this would enable Nigerians to determine whether the commission has effectively discharged its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
SERAP also argued that voters, journalists and civil society organisations would be unable to effectively scrutinise political financing if contribution limits were not easily accessible or if there was no publicly known mechanism for monitoring compliance.
The organisation expressed concern over the increasing monetisation of Nigeria’s electoral process, warning that it, alongside the potential misuse of state institutions, poses serious threats to democratic integrity and electoral competition.
SERAP urged INEC to provide greater transparency and accountability in political financing as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.