Author: Gist Correspondent

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project 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 from their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations for political and campaign purposes.

In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026 and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to issue an order of mandamus directing INEC to investigate reports alleging that APC governors have been making monthly contributions to a dedicated campaign fund to support President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid.

The organisation is also requesting that INEC compel the governors and the APC to fully disclose details of the alleged campaign fund, including the identities of donors and the lawful sources of the funds.

Additionally, SERAP wants the electoral commission to commence a formal review into compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act, particularly regarding the sources and scale of political and campaign financing by political parties and candidates.

According to SERAP, the allegations raise serious concerns about political finance transparency, electoral fairness, and Nigerians' constitutional right to participate freely in democratic governance. The organisation argued that the misuse of public resources for electoral advantage undermines democratic integrity, public trust, and accountability, stressing that transparency in campaign financing is essential to preventing corruption, undue influence, and state capture.