The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to publicly disclose the limits on political donations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP made the demand in a letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, signed by the organization’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday.
The group said Nigerians needed to know whether INEC had exercised its powers under the Electoral Act, 2026, to set limits on the amount individuals can donate to political parties and candidates.
The call comes as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace, with INEC having already released the Notice of Election, timetable and schedule of activities for the polls.
SERAP urged the commission to state clearly whether it had prescribed donation limits under Section 91 of the new Electoral Act and, if it had, publish the figures prominently and communicate them to political parties, candidates, donors and the public.
The organization also asked INEC to explain how it plans to monitor political donations and campaign spending during the election cycle.
It specifically requested details of the personnel, systems and procedures the commission has established to detect, investigate and sanction breaches of campaign finance rules.
SERAP said the monitoring framework should cover traditional cash donations as well as non-cash contributions, online fundraising, social media advertising, third-party campaign spending and donations channelled through intermediaries.
According to the organization, such disclosure is necessary to prevent wealthy individuals and groups from gaining disproportionate influence over Nigeria’s electoral process.
“INEC’s constitutional responsibility is not simply to receive financial statements from political parties,” SERAP said, stressing that the commission is also required to examine party finances, conduct investigations where necessary and submit reports to the National Assembly.
The group argued that publishing the relevant financial reports would allow Nigerians to assess whether INEC was properly carrying out its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
SERAP warned that the increasing cost of political campaigns in Nigeria, coupled with the possible use of government resources for political purposes, could undermine fair competition.
It said early disclosure of political financing would help voters identify excessive, hidden or potentially illegal sources of campaign funding before they influence the outcome of an election.
The organization noted that political parties and candidates were already raising funds and organizing rallies, media campaigns, digital advertisements and other political activities ahead of the 2027 polls.
It therefore urged INEC to clarify how these activities would be monitored throughout the campaign period, including spending by political consultants, online platforms and third parties acting on behalf of candidates or parties.
SERAP cited Section 91(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which empowers INEC to limit the amount of money or assets an individual may contribute to a political party or candidate and to request information on the amount donated and the source of the funds.
The group also referred to provisions allowing sanctions where individuals, candidates or political parties exceed the limits prescribed by the commission.
SERAP said the provisions could serve as an important safeguard against excessive financial influence in Nigerian politics, but only if INEC exercises and enforces the powers provided by law.
The organization consequently asked the commission to immediately publish any contribution limits it has established and make the information easily accessible, including through its official website.
Beyond donation limits, SERAP requested access to the latest financial records submitted by political parties to INEC, including statements of assets and liabilities, sources of funds and details of expenditure.
It also called for the publication of parties’ annual financial statements, audited accounts and election expenditure returns covering 2023 to 2025.
The group further requested INEC’s examination and audit reports prepared under Sections 225 and 226 of the Constitution, as well as the commission’s annual reports submitted to the National Assembly during the period.
SERAP said the requests were driven by longstanding concerns over the financing of elections in Nigeria, including inadequate disclosure of campaign donations, excessive spending, opaque funding sources and weak enforcement of financial regulations.
It argued that stronger transparency and enforcement were essential to ensuring that the 2027 elections were conducted on a level playing field.
The organization maintained that voters should be able to make political choices without being unduly influenced by undisclosed financial interests, while political parties and candidates should operate within clear and enforceable spending and donation rules.
