The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seven days to account for more than ₦126.46 billion in public funds allegedly diverted, lost, mismanaged or otherwise unaccounted for in the administration of elections. SERAP made the demand in a letter dated September 12,……
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seven days to account for more than ₦126.46 billion in public funds allegedly diverted, lost, mismanaged or otherwise unaccounted for in the administration of elections.
SERAP made the demand in a letter dated September 12, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, following findings contained in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on August 7, 2026.
The organisation said the funds relate to the procurement of ballot boxes, electoral devices and materials, sensitive materials and result sheets, vehicles, accreditation devices, audit and consultancy services, digital archiving and other goods and services required for the conduct of elections.
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General’s findings covered transactions and activities carried out between January and December 2022 and, in some instances, extended to December 31, 2023.
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SERAP urged INEC and its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to provide details of the funds, including amounts paid, beneficiaries, contracts and procurement processes, as well as contractors, suppliers and evidence of delivery, utilisation and the current status of the goods, services and electoral assets involved.
The organisation also asked INEC to refer the alleged financial irregularities and procurement violations to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, for investigation, prosecution and recovery.
SERAP further called on INEC to identify the public officials, contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants allegedly responsible and take steps to recover any funds found to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid, lost, diverted or paid for goods and services that were not supplied or properly utilised.
In the letter, SERAP said: “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.”
The organisation warned that failure to act within seven days could lead to legal action.
SERAP said, “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.”
According to the organisation, the Auditor-General found that INEC “irregularly paid” more than ₦112 billion for ballot boxes, electoral devices, items and materials without competitive bidding or a Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Certificate of No Objection.
SERAP quoted the Auditor-General as saying: “The Auditor-General found ‘no evidence that the items were procured.’ The ‘contracts were awarded to companies whose competences, experience, capacities, addresses and factory locations were unknown.’ He is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered.”
The organisation also cited a payment of more than ₦1 billion for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 Model, allegedly made without advertisement, competitive bidding, bid evaluation or a BPP Certificate of No Objection.
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General feared that the money “may have been lost” and that the contracts “may have been inflated.”
SERAP further alleged that INEC paid more than ₦3.1 billion to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were awarded, with no evidence of payment.
It said the Auditor-General was concerned that the money “may have been diverted” and recommended its recovery and remittance to the treasury.
The organisation also highlighted more than ₦9.2 billion paid for 22 contracts for similar goods and services, alleging that the contracts were “split to circumvent procurement procedures and awarded on the same day.”
The Auditor-General, according to SERAP, said the money “may have been lost” and that “the payment may have been made for items not supplied.”
Other payments cited by SERAP included more than ₦129 million to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services without evidence of utilisation, more than ₦504 million for accreditation devices without due procurement processes, and more than ₦235 million to unqualified contractors for sleeping mats and digital archiving.
On the accreditation devices, SERAP quoted the Auditor-General as saying: “The ‘APG had expired before the security licence key was delivered and the software was valid for only four months, raising questions about economy and value for money.’ The Auditor-General also raised concerns that the money ‘may have been diverted.’”
On the sleeping mats and digital archiving contracts, SERAP said the Auditor-General identified “serious concerns regarding the eligibility and capacity of the contractors” and raised concerns that the money “may have been lost.”
The organisation called on INEC to provide documentary and physical evidence showing that the more than ₦112 billion identified as “irregularly paid” was actually used for the procurement of the electoral materials concerned.
SERAP said: “Nigerians have a right to know every public act, everything that is done in the public interest, by their public institutions including INEC.”
It added: “Democracy requires an informed citizenry. That principle is directly relevant to public expenditure by an electoral management body: citizens are entitled to know how resources entrusted to INEC for the conduct of elections have been used.”
SERAP also asked INEC to ensure that no electoral equipment, material or other public asset covered by the Auditor-General’s findings is disposed of, transferred, destroyed, written off or otherwise dealt with in a way that could frustrate accountability or recovery pending reconciliation and any resulting investigation.
It further called for any referral to the EFCC and ICPC to cover contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants who allegedly received irregular payments, as well as INEC officials or other public officials who authorised, processed, facilitated or benefited from the transactions.
SERAP said the investigations should establish whether the contracted goods and services were actually supplied, whether payments corresponded with goods and services delivered, and whether contracts were deliberately split to circumvent procurement requirements.
The organisation also urged INEC to cooperate with the EFCC, ICPC, Auditor-General, Attorney-General of the Federation and other competent authorities to recover and remit any funds established to have been unlawfully received or expended.
SERAP said: “Recovery should extend to all amounts established to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid, together with any other recoverable public loss established through the investigations.”
The organisation also cited constitutional and international legal provisions, arguing that public institutions have an obligation to uphold transparency, accountability and citizens’ participation in public affairs.
