SERAP petitions INEC over missing N126.46 billion

Monday, September 14, 2026 -The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has given the Independent National Electoral Commission seven days to account for over N126.46bn in public funds allegedly diverted, lost, mismanaged or otherwise unaccounted for in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2023 audited report.

SERAP made the demand in a letter dated September 12, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN).

The organisation said the funds were appropriated for 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 elections.

According to SERAP, the Auditor-General’s report, published on August 7, 2026, contained findings covering various periods between January and December 2022 and, in some cases, extending to December 31, 2023.

SERAP urged Amupitan and INEC to account for the funds by providing details of payments, beneficiaries, contracts and procurement processes, as well as the contractors and suppliers involved and evidence of delivery, utilisation and the current status of the goods, services and electoral assets.

It also called on INEC to refer the alleged diversion, unlawful expenditure, procurement violations and other financial misconduct identified by the Auditor-General to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for investigation, prosecution and recovery.

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 said the Auditor-General found that INEC “irregularly paid” N112.15bn for ballot boxes, electoral devices, items and materials without competitive bidding or a Bureau of Public Procurement Certificate of No Objection.

It quoted the Auditor-General as finding “no evidence that the items were procured,” adding that the contracts were awarded to companies whose “competences, experience, capacities, addresses and factory locations were unknown.”

According to SERAP, the Auditor-General expressed concern that the money “may have been diverted” and recommended its recovery.

The organisation further said INEC paid N1.05bn for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 models without advertisement, competitive bidding, bid evaluation or a BPP Certificate of No Objection.

It said the Auditor-General feared that the money “may have been lost” and that the contracts “may have been inflated.”

SERAP also cited an alleged payment of N3.13bn to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were awarded, saying there was no evidence of payment.

It said the Auditor-General was concerned that the money “may have been diverted” and recommended that it be recovered and remitted to the treasury.

The organisation said a further N9.24bn was paid for 22 contracts for similar goods and services, with the contracts allegedly split to circumvent procurement procedures and awarded on the same day.

SERAP quoted the Auditor-General as saying the money “may have been lost” and that “the payment may have been made for items not supplied.”

Other expenditures highlighted by the organisation included N129.37m paid to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services without evidence of utilisation or requests and expenditure by the consultants.

SERAP also cited N504.49m allegedly paid for accreditation devices without due procurement procedures, saying the Auditor-General raised concerns about the expiry of the APG before delivery of the security licence key and the software’s validity for only four months.

It further alleged that N235.1m was paid to unqualified contractors for sleeping mats and digital archiving, with the Auditor-General raising “serious concerns regarding the eligibility and capacity of the contractors.”

SERAP called on INEC to provide documentary and physical evidence that the N112.15bn described as “irregularly paid” was actually used to procure the electoral materials concerned and to account for their present location and status.

It also urged the commission to identify the public officials, contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants responsible and take steps to recover any money found to have been unlawfully or irregularly paid, lost, diverted or paid for goods and services not supplied or properly utilised.

“Nigerians have a right to know every public act, everything that is done in the public interest, by their public institutions including INEC,” SERAP said.

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 further asked INEC to ensure that no electoral equipment, material or other public asset covered by the Auditor-General’s findings was disposed of, transferred, destroyed or otherwise dealt with in a manner that could frustrate accountability or recovery pending reconciliation and investigation.

The organisation said any referral to the EFCC and ICPC should cover the contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants who received the funds, as well as INEC or other public officials who authorised, processed, facilitated or benefited from the transactions.

SERAP said the investigations should determine whether the contracted goods and services were supplied, whether payments corresponded with goods and services delivered and whether contracts were deliberately split to circumvent procurement requirements.

The organisation also cited Sections 15(5) and 13 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Nigeria’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption, in support of its demand for transparency and accountability.

SERAP said it would take legal action if INEC failed to respond within seven days.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven 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,” it said.