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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to account for over P126.46 billion of public funds earmarked for electoral operations but allegedly “diverted, lost, irregularly spent, mismanaged” or otherwise unaccounted for.
SERAP made the request in a letter dated 12 September 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan.
The organization said the funds cover the procurement of ballot boxes, election devices and materials, sensitive materials and result sheets, vehicles, accreditation devices, audit and consultancy services, digital storage and other goods and services necessary for the conduct and administration of elections.
The request follows findings in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor General of the Federation, published on 7 August 2026.
According to SERAP, the auditor general’s findings covered transactions between January and December 2022 and, in some cases, extended to December 31, 2023.
SERAP said the findings were particularly worrying because the spending involved resources earmarked for an institution constitutionally responsible for managing Nigeria’s electoral system.
He urged INEC to provide a full accounting of the funds, including the amounts paid, the beneficiaries of the payments, the contracts and procurement procedures involved, the names of contractors and suppliers, as well as documentary evidence of the delivery, use and current status of the goods, services and constituency resources affected.
One of the major findings cited by SERAP was the alleged irregular payment of over ₦112.15 billion for ballot boxes, voting devices, items and materials without tender or clearance certificate from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
SERAP quoted the Auditor General as saying there was no evidence the items had been purchased, while the contracts were allegedly awarded to companies whose expertise, experience, capacity, factory addresses and locations were unknown.
The Auditor General reportedly expressed concern that the money “may have been diverted” and recommended its recovery.
SERAP also cited an alleged payment of ₦1.058 billion for 2021 Toyota Prado TXL model vehicles without advertising, competitive bidding, bid evaluation or a BPP certificate of no objection.
The Auditor General, according to SERAP, expressed concern that funds may have been lost and that contracts may have been inflated.
The organization further alleged that INEC paid more than ₦3.136 billion to four contractors for election guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were awarded, without any evidence of payment.
The auditor general reportedly expressed concern that the money may have been diverted and recommended that it be recovered and paid to the treasury.
Another ₦9.245 billion was reportedly paid under 22 contracts for similar goods and services, with the contracts reportedly split to circumvent procurement procedures and awarded on the same day.
According to SERAP, the Auditor General raised concerns that money may have been lost and payments may have been made for items not supplied.
The organization also cited an alleged payment of ₦129.375 million to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services without evidence of usage, requests or expenses by consultants.
SERAP said the Auditor General expressed concern that the funds may have been diverted and recommended that they be recovered and remitted to the Treasury.
Similarly, more than ₦504.49 million was allegedly paid for accreditation devices without due procurement procedures.
SERAP said the Auditor General observed that the applicable APG had expired before the security license key was delivered, while the software was only valid for four months, raising questions about economics and value for money.
The audit findings also reportedly identified more than ₦235.1 million paid to unqualified contractors for mats and digital storage.
According to SERAP, the Auditor General expressed serious concerns about the eligibility and capacity of contractors and expressed concern that money may have been lost.
SERAP urged Professor Amupitan and INEC to identify the public officials, contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants responsible for the transactions and take all necessary measures to recover any funds found to have been paid illegally or irregularly.
It also called on INEC to refer the alleged diversion, illegal spending, procurement breaches and other illicit financial conduct documented by the Auditor General to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
The organization said any investigation should determine whether the contracted goods and services were actually delivered, whether payments corresponded to the goods and services delivered, and whether contracts were deliberately split to evade procurement requirements.
It further urged INEC to ensure that no election equipment, material or other public property covered by the Auditor General’s findings were disposed of, transferred, destroyed, written off or otherwise treated in a manner that could frustrate accountability or recovery pending reconciliation and possible investigations.
SERAP said any referral to the EFCC and ICPC should 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.
“Election resources are public resources. INEC must be able to account for every naira, demonstrate that it was spent lawfully and demonstrate that it served the purposes for which it was appropriated,” SERAP said.
The organization added that Nigerians have the right to know how public institutions, especially the country’s electoral management body, spend the resources entrusted to them.
“Democracy requires an informed citizenry. This principle is directly relevant for the public spending of an electoral management body: citizens have the right to know how the resources entrusted to CENI have been used for the conduct of elections”, it reads.
SERAP also invoked Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires public institutions to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power, as well as Section 13 and Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
He also cited Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which protect citizens’ participation in public affairs.
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