The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its alleged failure to account for ₦55.9 billion earmarked for election materials used during the 2019 general elections.
The allegations are contained in the 2025 annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on September 9, 2025. SERAP disclosed the development on Sunday via its official X handle.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026, was filed last Friday before the Federal High Court in Abuja. SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus compelling INEC to explain how the funds, reportedly meant for the procurement of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets, and other election materials, were spent.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo. The group described the findings in the Auditor-General’s report as a “grave violation of public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), and international anti-corruption standards.”
SERAP argued that transparency and accountability are essential for INEC to guarantee credible elections and uphold Nigerians’ right to democratic participation.
In addition to accounting for the funds, SERAP is asking the court to order INEC to disclose the names of all contractors paid from the ₦55.9 billion, as well as the identities of their directors and shareholders.
“INEC must operate without corruption if the commission is to ensure free and fair elections in the country and uphold Nigerians’ right to participation,” the organisation said.
SERAP warned that unresolved allegations of financial misconduct could undermine future elections and insisted that any individuals or contractors involved must be prosecuted, with all proceeds of corruption recovered.
According to the Auditor-General’s report, INEC allegedly made several irregular payments, including over ₦5.3 billion paid to a contractor for smart card readers without approvals from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) or the Federal Executive Council, and without evidence of supply.
Although INEC reportedly claimed the procurement was covered by national security exemptions, the Auditor-General rejected the explanation as “alien to the Procurement Act,” stating that a Certificate of No Objection from the BPP was required and warning that the funds “may have been diverted.”
The report also alleged that more than ₦4.5 billion was paid to six contractors for ballot papers and result sheets without documentary proof of supply, approvals, or evidence of contractors’ eligibility, including tax and pension clearance certificates.
Other findings include questionable payments of over ₦331 million, failure to deduct and remit more than ₦2.1 billion in stamp duties, non-retirement of over ₦630 million in cash advances to staff, and the award of contracts exceeding ₦41 billion without due process or proof of contractors’ competence.
The Auditor-General further queried the award of a ₦297 million contract for four Toyota Land Cruisers, noting that market surveys indicated the vehicles did not exceed ₦50 million each at the time, despite INEC’s claim of paying ₦74 million per unit.
In several instances, the Auditor-General expressed concern that the funds involved “may have been diverted” and recommended their recovery and remittance to the treasury.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
