SERAP Gives INEC 7 Days Ultimatum to Account for Missing N126.46bn Electoral Funds
POLITICS DIGEST — The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to account for more than N126.46 billion in public funds allegedly lost, mismanaged, irregularly spent or otherwise unaccounted for in the commission’s electoral operations.
SERAP’s demand was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and made available to journalists on Sunday.
The organisation said the funds were meant for the procurement of ballot boxes, electoral devices and materials, sensitive electoral materials, result sheets and other goods and services required for the conduct and administration of elections.
SERAP based its demand on findings contained in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General for the Federation, published on August 7, 2026. The report covered the period from January to December 2022 and, in some instances, transactions extending to December 31, 2023.
The organisation urged the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and the commission to provide details of the affected transactions, including the amounts paid, beneficiaries, contracts and procurement processes, contractors and suppliers involved, as well as evidence of delivery, utilisation and the current status of the goods, services and electoral assets concerned.
It also asked the commission to refer alleged diversion of funds, unlawful expenditure, procurement breaches and other financial irregularities identified by the Auditor-General to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for investigation, prosecution and recovery.
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General reported that INEC “irregularly paid” N112.15 billion for ballot boxes, electoral devices, items and materials without competitive bidding or a Certificate of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement.
The Auditor-General reportedly found no evidence that the items were procured and raised concerns over contracts allegedly awarded to companies whose competence, experience, capacity, addresses and factory locations could not be established.
SERAP further cited an alleged N1.05 billion payment for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 models without advertisement, competitive bidding, bid evaluation or a BPP Certificate of No Objection.
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It said the Auditor-General also flagged N3.13 billion allegedly paid to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were awarded, with no evidence of payment, raising concerns that the funds may have been diverted.
Another N9.24 billion was reportedly paid under 22 contracts for similar goods and services, with the contracts allegedly split to circumvent procurement procedures and awarded on the same day.
The Auditor-General, according to SERAP, also questioned a N129.37 million payment to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services, for which there was allegedly no evidence of utilisation, requests or expenditure by the consultants.
SERAP called on INEC to identify all public officials, contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants responsible for the transactions and take immediate steps to recover any funds found to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid, diverted, lost or paid for goods and services that were not supplied or properly utilised.
The organisation also urged INEC to preserve all electoral equipment, materials and other public assets covered by the Auditor-General’s findings pending reconciliation and investigation, warning against their disposal, transfer, destruction or write-off in a manner that could frustrate accountability or recovery.
It said any investigation by the EFCC and ICPC should cover contractors, suppliers, companies and consultants who received the funds, as well as INEC officials or other public officials who authorised, processed, facilitated or benefited from the transactions.
SERAP said the investigations should establish whether the contracted goods and services were actually supplied, whether payments corresponded with goods and services delivered, and whether contracts were deliberately split to circumvent procurement requirements.
“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 appropriated,” the organisation said.
SERAP said the allegations were particularly serious given INEC’s constitutional responsibility for administering Nigeria’s electoral system and the importance of public confidence in the integrity of elections.
It added that the findings, if established, could amount to violations of the 1999 Constitution, national anti-corruption laws and Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
The organisation invoked Section 15(5) of the Constitution, which requires public institutions to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power, as well as Section 13, which requires public institutions to conform to and observe the provisions of Chapter II of the Constitution.
SERAP gave INEC seven days from receipt or publication of its letter to respond, warning that it would consider legal action to compel compliance if the commission failed to act within the stipulated period.
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