The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission over its alleged failure to properly account for N55.9 billion earmarked for the procurement of election materials for the 2019 general elections.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026, was filed last Friday before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said the disputed funds were meant for the purchase of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other critical materials used for the conduct of the 2019 polls.
The rights group said its action was based on allegations contained in the latest annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on September 9, 2025.
SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus compelling INEC to give a full account of the alleged missing or diverted N55.9 billion.
It is also asking the court to direct the electoral body to disclose the names of all contractors allegedly paid from the funds, as well as the identities of their directors and shareholders.
According to court documents filed by SERAP’s lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, a 2022 audited report by the Auditor-General alleged that INEC “irregularly paid” over N5.3 billion to a contractor for the supply of smart card readers for the 2019 elections.
The report stated that the contract was awarded without prior approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council, adding that the payment was made without supporting documents or evidence that the items were supplied.
INEC reportedly claimed it did not seek approval because the procurement of smart card readers fell under national defence or national security and was therefore exempted under the Procurement Act.
However, SERAP said the Auditor-General rejected this explanation, describing it as “alien to the Procurement Act,” and insisted that INEC ought to have obtained a Certificate of No Objection from the BPP.
The Auditor-General, according to SERAP, expressed concern that the funds “may have been diverted” and recommended their recovery and remittance to the Federal Treasury.
The organisation also cited findings that INEC allegedly paid over N4.5 billion to six contractors for ballot papers and result sheets without documentary evidence of supply or proof of due procurement process, including advertisement, bid evaluation and approvals.
Other allegations highlighted in the report include questionable payments of over N331 million to contractors, failure to deduct and remit more than N2.1 billion in stamp duties, non-retirement of over N630 million in cash advances to INEC officials, and the award of contracts worth over N41 billion for printing election materials without due process.
SERAP further noted that the Auditor-General queried the award of a contract for the supply of four Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles to INEC at over N297 million, saying market surveys showed that each vehicle did not cost more than N50 million at the time, while INEC allegedly paid N74 million per unit.
The organisation stressed that transparency and accountability are fundamental to the credibility of elections, arguing that INEC cannot effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities if allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement persist.
“No democratic process can thrive where the body charged with conducting elections fails to uphold the rule of law and principles of accountability,” SERAP said.
No hearing date has been fixed for the suit.
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