2027: INEC dragged to court over alleged diversion of N800b by APC Govs

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, said it has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking a court order compelling the electoral body to investigate allegations that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, diverted N800 billion for political and campaign purposes.

SERAP disclosed this in a statement, alleging that the governors were making monthly contributions from their Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, allocations to a dedicated campaign fund to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

According to the organisation, the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, was filed last week before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

SERAP is asking the court to issue an order of mandamus directing INEC to investigate the allegations and compel the commission to request full disclosure from the APC and the affected governors on the alleged campaign fund, including the identities of donors and the lawful sources of the funds.

The group is also seeking an order directing INEC to initiate a formal review and investigation into compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act by all political parties and candidates, particularly regarding the sources and scale of political or campaign financing in the current election cycle.

SERAP argued that the allegations raise concerns over political finance transparency, electoral fairness, and Nigerians’ constitutional right to participate freely in democratic governance.

The organisation maintained that opaque political financing fuels corruption and undermines democratic legitimacy, stressing that Nigerians have a right to know who funds political parties and candidates, as well as the sources of such funding.

It further argued that the alleged misuse of public resources for electoral purposes threatens democratic integrity and public trust, adding that transparency and accountability in campaign financing are critical to preventing corruption, state capture, and undue political influence.

2027: INEC dragged to court over alleged diversion of N800b by APC Govs