SERAP Gives INEC 7 Days To Explain N126bn Electoral Expenditure

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to account for N126.46 billion in electoral spending highlighted in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s report, or face legal action.

SERAP’s demand follows findings in the Auditor-General’s 2023 audited report, published on August 7, 2026, which raised concerns about payments for electoral materials, vehicles, accreditation devices, audit services, digital archiving, and other goods and services.

In a letter dated September 12, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the civil society organisation urged INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to provide details of the payments, beneficiaries, contracts, procurement processes, contractors, and suppliers, as well as documentary and physical proof that the items and services were delivered and properly utilised.

SERAP also demanded that the commission should report the alleged financial irregularities and procurement violations to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation, prosecution, and recovery if wrongdoing is found.

It further claimed that the Auditor-General flagged N112.155 billion supposedly paid for ballot boxes, electoral devices, and other materials without competitive bidding or a Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Certificate of No Objection.

The audit report, SERAP said, found no evidence that the items were procured and raised concerns that contracts were awarded to companies with unknown competence, experience, capacity, addresses, and factory locations.

The Auditor-General reportedly recommended recovering the funds and urged INEC to provide evidence that the materials were procured and to account for their current location and condition.

SERAP further highlighted N1.058 billion paid for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 Model vehicles, allegedly without advertisement, competitive bidding, bid evaluation, or a BPP Certificate of No Objection.

The audit findings also reportedly identified N3.136 billion paid to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials, and result sheets before contracts were awarded, raising concerns that the funds might have been diverted.

Another N9.245 billion involving 22 contracts for similar goods and services was flagged, with the Auditor-General observing that the contracts were split and awarded on the same day in a manner that could have bypassed procurement procedures.

Other payments referenced by SERAP included N129.375 million to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services, allegedly without evidence of utilisation; N504.49 million for accreditation devices procured without proper procedures; and N235.103 million paid to contractors for sleeping mats and digital archiving, despite concerns over their eligibility and capacity.

The organisation further urged INEC to identify the officials, contractors, companies, suppliers, and consultants responsible for the transactions and to take action to recover any funds found to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid, lost, or spent.

It also called on the commission to preserve all electoral equipment, materials, and public assets covered by the audit findings until reconciliation and possible investigations are complete.

“Electoral resources are public resources. INEC must be able to account for every naira, demonstrate that it was lawfully spent, and show that it served the purposes for which it was allocated,” SERAP stated.

The organisation argued that the findings are particularly concerning given INEC’s constitutional duties and the need to maintain public confidence in election management.

It said the alleged irregularities, if proven, could violate the Constitution, Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws, and the country’s international obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

SERAP said that any investigation should verify whether the contracted goods and services were delivered, whether payments matched actual deliveries, and whether contracts were deliberately divided to avoid procurement rules.

It warned that if INEC failed to respond within seven days of receiving or being notified of the letter, it would take legal action to enforce compliance in the public interest.