SERAP Sues INEC Over Alleged ₦800bn FAAC Diversion to Tinubu's 2027 Campaign

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate allegations that about ₦800 billion from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations was diverted by governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for political and campaign activities.

The lawsuit follows reports alleging that APC governors have been making monthly deductions from their FAAC allocations into a dedicated fund allegedly intended to support President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election campaign.

In a statement issued by SERAP's Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said it approached the court to ensure the allegations are independently investigated in line with Nigeria's electoral laws.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, asks the Federal High Court to compel INEC to determine whether the reported funding arrangement violates provisions of the Electoral Act governing campaign financing and political donations.

SERAP is also asking the court to order the electoral commission to obtain full disclosure from the affected governors and the APC on any contributions made to campaign-related funds, including the identities of donors, the amounts contributed and the sources of the funds.

In addition, the organisation wants the court to direct INEC to carry out a broader review of compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act, particularly as it relates to campaign financing, political donations and the sources of funds available to political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi.

According to the organisation, the allegations raise serious questions about transparency in political financing, electoral fairness and the integrity of Nigeria's democratic process.

SERAP argued that the use of undisclosed or improperly sourced funds in election campaigns could create opportunities for corruption, distort electoral competition and weaken public confidence in democratic institutions.

"These allegations raise serious concerns about political finance transparency, electoral fairness, and the constitutional right of Nigerians to participate freely in their own government," the organisation stated.

It maintained that Nigerians have a right to know who finances political parties and candidates, stressing that transparency in campaign funding is essential to preventing corruption, undue influence and state capture.

According to SERAP, if public funds were diverted for partisan political purposes, such actions would amount to an abuse of state resources capable of undermining the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

"The allegations of diversion or opaque use of public funds pose a grave risk to the integrity of the 2027 general elections," the suit stated.

The organisation further argued that the scale of the alleged financial flows, combined with limited disclosure requirements and weak oversight, provides sufficient grounds for INEC to exercise its constitutional and statutory powers to investigate the matter.

SERAP cited Section 91 of the Electoral Act, which empowers INEC to regulate political donations, demand disclosure of funding sources and sanction political parties or individuals that exceed legally prescribed contribution limits.

It noted that the law provides penalties, including fines and forfeiture of excess funds, for violations of campaign finance regulations.

The organisation also relied on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, arguing that they impose obligations on public institutions to promote transparency, accountability and fairness in electoral processes.

SERAP contended that allowing the alleged misuse of public funds for political campaigns would compromise the principle of a level playing field and deny Nigerians the opportunity to participate in free and fair elections.

The organisation also accused INEC of failing to proactively enforce constitutional and electoral safeguards designed to prevent abuses in political financing, warning that continued inaction could erode public trust in Nigeria's electoral system.

"No individual or political party should be allowed to exceed legally prescribed contribution limits, whether directly or indirectly, and there must be full transparency regarding the origin and scale of political funding," SERAP argued.

As of the time of filing this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.