The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated a major legal action against Nigeria's electoral body. The organisation filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide a full public account for N55.9 billion allegedly mismanaged during the procurement of materials for the 2019 general elections.
Lawsuit Details and Auditor-General's Findings
Filed on Friday, 9 January 2026, the suit with number FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026 is based on a damning report from the Auditor-General of the Federation. This report, published on 9 September 2025, raised serious red flags about numerous payments made by INEC for election-related goods and services.
SERAP is specifically asking the court for an order of mandamus. This legal instrument would force INEC to explain what happened to the N55.9 billion earmarked for critical items like smart card readers, ballot papers, and result sheets. Furthermore, SERAP demands that INEC disclose the names of all contractors who received these funds, including the identities of their directors and shareholders.
The group's lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, argue that transparency is non-negotiable for credible elections. They stated that INEC must operate free from corruption to uphold Nigerians' constitutional right to free and fair elections.
Specific Allegations of Financial Impropriety
The Auditor-General's report, which forms the backbone of the lawsuit, contains several explosive allegations. A key finding is that INEC irregularly paid over N5.3 billion to a contractor for supplying smart card readers. This payment was made without the legally required approvals from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Executive Council.
INEC reportedly defended this action by claiming a national security exemption, a justification the Auditor-General flatly rejected as "alien to the Procurement Act." The report also highlighted a complete lack of documentation to prove the supplies were ever delivered to the commission.
Other major queries include:
- Payments of over N4.5 billion to six contractors for ballot papers and result sheets with "no documentary evidence of supply."
- Questionable payments totalling N331 million under "doubtful circumstances," including instances where payment receipts were dated before the contracts were even awarded.
- INEC's failure to deduct over N2.1 billion in stamp duties from contractors.
- Unretired cash advances of over N630 million given to staff.
- Contracts worth more than N41 billion for printing election materials allegedly awarded without following due process.
- The award of a contract for four Toyota Land Cruisers at over N297 million, a price significantly higher than market rates at the time.
Implications for Nigeria's Electoral Integrity
SERAP contends that these allegations represent a severe breach of public trust and violate both the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption standards. The organisation warned that corruption in election procurement directly undermines the foundation of democracy by compromising the integrity of the electoral process.
"INEC cannot ensure impartial administration of future elections if these allegations are not satisfactorily addressed," SERAP argued in its court filings. The group insists that for public confidence to be restored, perpetrators must be prosecuted and all proceeds of corruption fully recovered.
No hearing date has been set for this landmark case, which puts INEC's financial management under intense judicial scrutiny. The outcome could have profound implications for accountability in Nigeria's electoral system.
