The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has given the Independent National Electoral Commission seven days to account for N126.46bn 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 September 12, 2026 letter signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan. It said the funds were appropriated for ballot boxes, electoral devices and materials, sensitive materials, result sheets, vehicles, accreditation devices, audit and consultancy services, digital archiving and other election-related needs.
According to the organisation, the Auditor-General’s report, published on August 7, 2026, contained findings covering transactions between January and December 2022, with some extending to December 31, 2023. SERAP asked INEC to provide details of payments, beneficiaries, contracts, procurement processes, contractors and suppliers, as well as evidence of delivery and the current status of the assets and services.
SERAP said the Auditor-General found that N112.15bn was irregularly paid for ballot boxes, electoral devices and other materials without competitive bidding or a Bureau of Public Procurement Certificate of No Objection. It said the report found no evidence that the items were procured and recommended recovery of the funds over concerns that the money may have been diverted.
The organisation also cited N1.05bn paid for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 vehicles without required procurement procedures, alleging that the Auditor-General raised concerns that the funds may have been lost or the contracts inflated. Other highlighted transactions included N3.13bn paid to four contractors for electoral materials before contract awards and N9.24bn for 22 contracts allegedly split to circumvent procurement rules.
SERAP further cited N129.37m paid to 19 accounting firms without evidence of utilisation, N504.49m for accreditation devices amid procurement and software-validity concerns, and N235.1m allegedly paid to unqualified contractors for sleeping mats and digital archiving.
It urged INEC to identify officials, contractors, companies, suppliers and consultants involved and recover any funds found to have been irregularly paid or used.
The organisation also asked INEC to refer the alleged financial and procurement violations to the EFCC and ICPC for investigation, prosecution and recovery. SERAP said it would take legal action if INEC failed to respond within seven days, citing constitutional and anti-corruption obligations in support of its demand for transparency and accountability.
