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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its alleged failure to account for ₦55.9 billion earmarked for the procurement of election materials for the 2019 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday, January 11, the Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the funds were allocated for the purchase of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets, and other election materials.
The organisation said the allegations were contained in the latest annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on September 9, 2025.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026 and filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, is seeking an order of mandamus compelling INEC to account for the alleged missing or diverted ₦55.9 billion.
SERAP is also asking the court to order INEC to disclose the names of all contractors paid from the funds, including details of their directors and shareholders, for the procurement of election materials used in the 2019 polls.
In court documents filed by SERAP’s lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, the organisation cited a 2022 audited report by the Auditor-General, which alleged that INEC irregularly paid over ₦5.3 billion to a contractor for the supply of smart card readers.
According to the report, the contract was awarded without prior approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement or the Federal Executive Council, and the payment was allegedly made without any supporting documentation or evidence that the items were supplied.
INEC reportedly defended the payment by claiming that the procurement of smart card readers fell under national security and was therefore exempted from the Procurement Act.
However, the Auditor-General rejected the justification, stating that it was not supported by the law and that INEC should have obtained a Certificate of No Objection from the BPP.
SERAP said the Auditor-General expressed concern that the funds might have been diverted and recommended that the money be recovered and remitted to the treasury.
The organisation also cited allegations that INEC paid more than ₦4.5 billion to six contractors for ballot papers and result sheets without proof of supply or compliance with procurement procedures, including advertisement, bid evaluation, and approvals.
Other issues raised in the report included the payment of more than ₦331 million to contractors under questionable circumstances, failure to deduct and remit over ₦2.1 billion in stamp duties, non-repayment of more than ₦630 million in cash advances to INEC officials, and the award of contracts valued at over ₦41 billion for printing election materials without due process.
SERAP further noted that the Auditor-General queried the award of a contract worth over ₦297 million for the supply of four Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles to INEC, saying market surveys indicated the vehicles did not cost more than ₦50 million each at the time, while the commission allegedly paid ₦74 million per vehicle.
The organisation maintained that transparency and accountability are essential for INEC to conduct free and fair elections and safeguard Nigerians’ right to participate in the electoral process.
No hearing date has been fixed for the suit.
