By Seun Ibiyemi
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen transparency and enforcement of political campaign financing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP made the demand in a Freedom of Information request dated August 22, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, asking INEC to disclose details of its monitoring and enforcement of political finance regulations.
The organisation also asked the electoral commission to clarify whether it has exercised its powers under the Electoral Act 2026 to establish limits on individual contributions to political parties and candidates.
SERAP specifically requested information on whether INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, had exercised the commission’s powers under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to set limits on individual political donations.
It urged INEC to immediately publish any contribution limits already approved and ensure that political parties, candidates, donors and voters are adequately informed.
The organisation further requested access to INEC’s reports on the examination and audit of the finances of political parties between 2023 and 2025.
It asked the commission to disclose financial statements submitted by political parties, including their assets, liabilities, sources of income, contributions received and expenditures.
SERAP also demanded details of political parties that failed to submit statutory contribution reports following the 2023 elections and the sanctions or other measures taken against them.
The organisation said INEC should explain the mechanisms it has established to monitor compliance with campaign-finance rules as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
According to SERAP, monitoring should extend beyond cash donations to include non-cash contributions, online fundraising, social media and digital advertising, third-party expenditure and funds channelled through intermediaries.
It warned that the rising cost of political competition could allow wealthy individuals and undisclosed financial interests to exercise disproportionate influence over elections if campaign financing is not effectively regulated.
SERAP argued that monitoring should be conducted throughout the electoral process rather than being limited to auditing political parties’ financial records after elections.
The organisation also urged INEC to disclose its proposed political-finance monitoring strategy for the 2027 elections, including whether it plans to deploy real-time or near-real-time monitoring systems.
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It asked the commission to explain how it intends to collaborate with anti-corruption agencies, financial intelligence authorities, regulators and law-enforcement bodies to identify and investigate suspicious political funding.
SERAP said stronger enforcement of political-finance rules was necessary to protect electoral fairness and prevent financial power from undermining voters’ choices.
It gave INEC seven days from the receipt or publication of the request to provide the requested information, warning that failure to comply could lead to legal action to compel the commission to fulfil its Freedom of Information obligations.
The organisation maintained that greater scrutiny of political donations and campaign expenditure would be critical to ensuring a transparent and credible 2027 electoral process.
