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 electoral funds allegedly diverted, lost, irregularly spent or otherwise unaccounted for, threatening legal action if the commission fails to comply.
SERAP further demanded that INEC refer the alleged financial irregularities contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation, prosecution and recovery.
The organisation, in a statement released on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the funds were appropriated for the procurement of ballot boxes, electoral devices and materials, sensitive materials and result sheets, vehicles, accreditation devices, audit and consultancy services, digital archiving and other goods and services required for elections.
It warned that failure by INEC to act within seven days of receiving or being notified of the letter would compel it to “take all appropriate legal actions” to force compliance in the public interest.
“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.
The organisation based its demands on findings contained in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on August 7, 2026.
According to SERAP, the audit findings, which covered transactions between January and December 2022 and, in some instances, extended to December 31, 2023, raised serious questions over the management of billions of naira by INEC.
The most significant finding involved more than ₦112.15 billion, which, according to the Auditor-General, INEC “irregularly paid” for ballot boxes, electoral devices and other electoral materials without competitive bidding or a Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Certificate of No Objection.
SERAP quoted the Auditor-General as saying there was “no evidence that the items were procured”, while the contracts were allegedly 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 organisation further cited an alleged payment of more than ₦1.05 billion for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 models without advertisement, competitive bidding, bid evaluation or a BPP Certificate of No Objection.
The audit report, according to SERAP, raised concerns that the money might have been lost and that the contracts may have been inflated.
Another ₦3.13 billion was allegedly paid to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were awarded, with the Auditor-General expressing concern that the money “may have been diverted” and recommending its recovery and remittance to the treasury.
SERAP also highlighted ₦9.24 billion allegedly paid under 22 contracts for similar goods and services, with the contracts reportedly split to circumvent procurement procedures and awarded on the same day.
The Auditor-General reportedly raised concerns that the funds may have been lost and that payments may have been made for items not supplied.
Other transactions questioned in the audit included ₦129.37 million paid to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services without evidence of utilisation, requests or expenditure by the consultants.
INEC was also said to have paid more than ₦504 million for accreditation devices without due procurement procedures. SERAP said the audit found that the applicable security licence key had expired before delivery, while the software was valid for only four months, raising questions over value for money.
A further ₦235.1 million was allegedly paid to unqualified contractors for sleeping mats and digital archiving, with the Auditor-General raising concerns about the eligibility and capacity of the contractors.
SERAP wants INEC to provide documentary and physical evidence showing that the electoral materials covered by the audit findings were actually procured, delivered and utilised, as well as account for their present location and status.
It also demanded details of the beneficiaries of the payments, contracts and procurement processes, contractors and suppliers involved, and evidence of delivery and utilisation of the goods and services.
The organisation urged INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to identify the public officials, contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants responsible for the transactions and take steps to recover any funds established to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid, lost or diverted.
SERAP further asked INEC to ensure that no electoral equipment, material or other public asset linked to the audit findings is disposed of, transferred, destroyed, written off or otherwise dealt with in a way that could frustrate accountability or recovery pending reconciliation and investigation.
It said any investigation by the EFCC and ICPC should cover contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants who allegedly received irregular payments, as well as INEC officials or other public officials who authorised, processed, facilitated or benefited from the transactions.
SERAP said the investigations should determine whether the contracted goods and services were actually supplied, whether payments corresponded with items delivered and whether contracts were deliberately split to evade procurement requirements.
“Where investigations establish that public funds were unlawfully received or expended, INEC should cooperate fully with the EFCC, ICPC, Auditor-General, Attorney-General of the Federation and other competent authorities to secure recovery and remittance of the funds to the appropriate public account,” it said.
The organisation argued that the alleged irregularities were particularly troubling because INEC is constitutionally responsible for administering Nigeria’s electoral system and manages resources appropriated for the conduct of elections.
SERAP said the findings suggested a possible violation of public trust, the 1999 Constitution, anti-corruption laws and Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
It also cited constitutional provisions requiring public institutions to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power, insisting that Nigerians have a right to know how resources entrusted to INEC for the administration of elections are spent.
“Democracy requires an informed citizenry. That principle is directly relevant to public expenditure by an electoral management body: citizens are entitled to know how resources entrusted to INEC for the conduct of elections have been used,” SERAP said.
The organisation maintained that recovery should cover all amounts ultimately established to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid, together with any other recoverable public losses uncovered by investigations.