By Seun Ibiyemi
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to account for more than ₦126.46 billion in public funds allegedly diverted, lost, mismanaged or otherwise unaccounted for in the administration of elections.
SERAP’s demand is based on findings contained in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on August 7, 2026. The audit findings covered expenditures made between January and December 2022 and, in some instances, transactions extending to December 31, 2023.
In a letter dated September 12, 2026 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation demanded that INEC disclose details of the affected funds, including payments made, beneficiaries, contracts and procurement processes, contractors and suppliers, as well as evidence that the goods and services were delivered and properly utilised.
SERAP also urged INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to refer the alleged financial irregularities to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation, prosecution and recovery where necessary.
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General reported that INEC “irregularly paid” ₦112.15 billion for ballot boxes, electoral devices, items and materials without competitive bidding or a Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Certificate of No Objection.
The organisation said the audit report found no evidence that the items were procured and raised concerns that the contracts were awarded to companies whose competence, experience, capacity, addresses and factory locations were unknown.
The Auditor-General, SERAP said, expressed concern that the money “may have been diverted” and recommended its recovery.
The group further cited several other questionable expenditures, including ₦1.06 billion allegedly paid for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 vehicles without advertisement, competitive bidding, bid evaluation or a BPP Certificate of No Objection.
SERAP also said INEC paid ₦3.14 billion to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were awarded, while another ₦9.25 billion was allegedly paid for 22 similar contracts that were split and awarded on the same day, allegedly to circumvent procurement procedures.
The organisation further cited ₦129.38 million paid to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services without evidence of utilisation, ₦504.49 million for accreditation devices without due procurement procedures, and ₦235.10 million paid to unqualified contractors for sleeping mats and digital archiving.
SERAP demanded that INEC provide documentary and physical evidence showing that the more than ₦112 billion identified as irregularly paid was actually used to procure the electoral materials concerned, including details of the current location and condition of the assets.
It also urged INEC to preserve all electoral equipment, materials and other public assets covered by the audit findings pending reconciliation and any resulting investigations.
“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,” SERAP said.
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The organisation warned that failure to respond within seven days would prompt it to take “all appropriate legal actions” to compel INEC to comply with its demands in the public interest.
SERAP further called for any investigation by the EFCC and ICPC to cover contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants who received the funds, as well as INEC or other public officials who authorised, processed, facilitated or benefited from the transactions.
It said the investigations should establish whether the contracted goods and services were actually supplied, whether payments corresponded with deliveries and whether contracts were deliberately split to circumvent procurement requirements.
SERAP said any funds established to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid should be recovered and remitted to the appropriate public account.
