INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan,
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 electoral funds allegedly diverted, mismanaged, lost or otherwise unaccounted for.
SERAP made the demand in a letter dated September 12, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
The organisation said the funds were appropriated for the procurement of ballot boxes, electoral devices and materials, sensitive materials, result sheets, vehicles, accreditation devices, audit and consultancy services, digital archiving and other goods and services required for elections.
According to SERAP, the allegations are contained in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on August 7, 2026.
The report examined transactions covering various periods between January and December 2022, with some findings extending to December 31, 2023.
SERAP asked INEC and its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to provide comprehensive details of the transactions, including the amounts paid, beneficiaries, contracts, procurement processes, contractors and suppliers, as well as evidence of delivery, utilisation and the current status of the items procured.
The organisation also urged INEC to refer any financial misconduct identified in the Auditor-General’s report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation and possible prosecution.
It further called for the identification of public officials, contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants linked to the transactions and the recovery of any funds found to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid.
“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 highlighted several transactions contained in the Auditor-General’s findings.
Among them was an alleged irregular payment of N112.15 billion for ballot boxes, electoral devices, items and materials without competitive bidding or a Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Certificate of No Objection.
SERAP said the Auditor-General found no evidence that the items had been procured and raised concerns about contracts awarded to companies whose competence, experience, capacity, addresses and factory locations were unknown.
The Auditor-General, according to SERAP, warned that the funds “may have been diverted” and called for their recovery.
SERAP also 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.
It said the Auditor-General raised concerns that the money “may have been lost” and that the contracts “may have been inflated.”
Another transaction involved more than N3.13 billion allegedly paid to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were formally awarded.
SERAP said the Auditor-General found no evidence of payment and expressed concern that the funds “may have been diverted,” recommending their recovery and remittance to the treasury.
The organisation further cited N9.24 billion allegedly paid under 22 contracts involving similar goods and services, with the contracts reportedly split to circumvent procurement procedures and awarded on the same day.
Other transactions cited included N129.37 million paid to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services without sufficient evidence of utilisation; N504.49 million for accreditation devices allegedly procured without due procedures; and N235.1 million paid to contractors for sleeping mats and digital archiving.
SERAP urged INEC to provide documentary and physical evidence showing that the N112.15 billion identified as irregularly paid was actually used for the procurement of the specified electoral materials.
It also demanded details of the present location, condition and status of the materials.
“Nigerians have a right to know every public act, everything that is done in the public interest, by their public institutions including INEC,” the organisation said.
SERAP warned that it would commence legal proceedings if INEC failed to respond to its demands within seven days of receiving or being served with the letter.
It also urged the commission to ensure that none of the electoral equipment, materials or other public assets covered by the Auditor-General’s findings is disposed of, transferred, destroyed or written off pending reconciliation and investigation.
The organisation said any investigation by the EFCC or ICPC should extend to INEC officials and other public officials who authorised, processed, facilitated or benefited from the transactions.
According to SERAP, the investigations should determine whether the contracted goods and services were actually supplied, whether payments corresponded with deliveries and whether contracts were deliberately split to evade procurement requirements.
SERAP further demanded the recovery and remittance of any public funds found to have been unlawfully received or expended.
It said INEC’s obligations under the Nigerian Constitution, anti-corruption laws and international instruments require transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
The organisation also cited Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, alongside Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
