2027: SERAP urges INEC to publish political donation limits, party finances

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Professor Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), “to urgently disclose whether the Commission has exercised its statutory power to prescribe limits on political contributions under section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2026, and, if so, to publish the applicable limits and widely communicate them to political parties, candidates, donors and the Nigerian public.”

It made the demand in a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated August 22, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The request read: “Voters, journalists and civil-society organisations cannot effectively scrutinise political financing if the applicable limits are not easily accessible or if there is no publicly known mechanism for monitoring compliance.

“The increasing monetisation of Nigeria’s elections, alongside the potential misuse of state institutions, poses serious threats to democratic integrity and electoral competition.

“The information requested would enable citizens to identify excessive, undisclosed or potentially illicit political financing before it can distort electoral competition, rather than only after votes have been cast.

“Effective political-finance regulation is an important safeguard for constitutional democracy, equality of political participation, freedom of expression and association, electoral integrity and citizens’ meaningful participation in public affairs.

“We would be grateful if the requested information is provided 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.

“Nigeria has a persistent problem of political parties failing to disclose campaign contributions. Such non-compliance has been described as systemic, while the absence of clear and effective sanctions for default has weakened INEC’s ability to enforce compliance.

“Nigeria has long faced serious challenges in regulating political finance, including concerns about excessive campaign spending, opaque sources of political funding, weak disclosure and reporting, and limited enforcement of statutory spending and contribution rules.

“Previous assessments of Nigeria’s elections have identified significant gaps between the legal framework and its practical implementation, including concerns that spending limits can be circumvented, political-party expenditure is insufficiently regulated or transparently disclosed, and violations are rarely identified and effectively sanctioned.

“These concerns are particularly significant given the scale of campaign expenditure and changes in the statutory spending and contribution thresholds under Nigeria’s constitutional and evolving electoral framework.

“It remains unclear whether INEC has prescribed, clearly published and effectively monitored the applicable contribution limits, and whether political parties and candidates can be held accountable for contributions and expenditure that exceed applicable limits or are deliberately concealed.

“Transparency about the financial affairs of political parties is particularly important because political parties are central to the exercise of citizens’ constitutional rights to participate in public affairs and to form and belong to political associations.

“Citizens cannot meaningfully exercise their political rights if undisclosed or excessive financial resources are allowed to distort the political process.

“The requested information concerns the discharge of INEC’s constitutional and statutory responsibilities, the financing of political parties and candidates, and the integrity of the electoral process.

“Political parties, candidates and their supporters are already mobilising resources, soliciting contributions, organising political activities, purchasing media and digital advertising, holding rallies and other events, and incurring campaign-related expenditure.

“INEC should disclose how it intends to monitor political financing during the campaign period, including expenditure and contributions involving cash and in-kind contributions; digital and social-media advertising; political consultants and campaign consultants; and third-party campaign expenditure.

“The existence of statutory limits on political contributions and election expenditure is intended not merely to facilitate retrospective accounting after an election but to prevent excessive financial influence while political competition is taking place.

“Section 91(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 provides that: ‘The Commission shall have power to place limitation on the amount of money or other assets which an individual can contribute to a political party or candidate and to demand such information on the amount donated and source of the funds.’

“Section 91(2) provides sanctions where an individual, candidate or political party exceeds the applicable limit prescribed by INEC. The statutory power given to INEC creates an important safeguard against excessive financial influence over political parties and candidates.

“Where INEC has exercised its power under section 91, Nigerians are entitled to know the applicable contribution limits and how the Commission intends to ensure compliance with them.

“INEC should clarify whether it has prescribed contribution limits and, if so, immediately publish them in a prominent and easily accessible location, including on its website.

“INEC should explain the methodology and criteria used in determining the limits and whether the Commission has considered the need to prevent excessive financial influence, ensure fair electoral competition, address risks of corruption and illicit political financing, and protect the integrity of the electoral process.

“Section 226(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) imposes an annual obligation on INEC to prepare and submit to the National Assembly a report on the accounts and balance sheets of political parties.

“Section 226(2) requires INEC to conduct investigations necessary to enable it to form an opinion on whether proper books of account and proper records have been maintained by political parties.