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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on all 19 presidential candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publicly disclose their assets and liabilities ahead of the 2027 election.
The organisation also called on the candidates to disclose the assets and liabilities of their spouses and, where applicable, their unmarried children under 18, and to explain the legitimate sources of significant assets.
In an open letter dated August 8, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP also urged the candidates to publicly reject vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the election.
BREAKING : We’ve urged all 19 presidential candidates announced by @inecnigeria to promptly publish details of their assets and liabilities, those of their spouses and, where applicable, their unmarried children under 18, and disclose the legitimate sources of their significant…
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) August 9, 2026
The organisation said candidates seeking the country’s highest elected office should voluntarily adopt higher standards of transparency and accountability, even where the law does not expressly require them to publish their asset declarations before an election.
SERAP argued that candidates seeking public support should be willing to subject their personal finances to reasonable public scrutiny, given the extensive powers they would exercise over public finances, natural resources, appointments and security institutions if elected.
The organisation noted that although the Nigerian Constitution does not expressly require presidential candidates to publish their asset declarations before an election, it said the Constitution embodies principles of transparency, accountability and integrity in public office.
“Candidates asking Nigerians to entrust them with enormous constitutional powers over public finances, natural resources, appointments and security institutions should be willing, before asking for their votes, to demonstrate that their personal financial affairs can withstand reasonable public scrutiny.
“Nigeria’s democracy belongs to its citizens. Votes must not be bought. Public office must not be treated as private property. Those seeking the highest public office must be willing to meet the highest standards of transparency, accountability and integrity.
“The 2027 presidential election presents an opportunity for political leaders to show that public office is a public trust. Candidates who voluntarily disclose their assets and reject vote-buying can show that they are prepared to uphold the transparency and accountability they promise to deliver if elected.
“The Constitution already requires elected public officers, including the President, to declare their assets and liabilities,” SERAP said.
It cited Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule, which requires public officers to declare their properties, assets and liabilities, including those of unmarried children under 18. It also referenced Section 140(1), which requires a President-elect to make the prescribed declaration before assuming office.
SERAP said voluntary disclosure before the election would give voters greater information about the candidates and demonstrate their commitment to transparency and accountability.
“Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule requires public officers to submit declarations of their properties, assets and liabilities, including those of unmarried children under 18, while section 140(1) requires a person elected President to make the prescribed declaration before assuming the functions of office,” it said.
The organisation also raised concerns about the continued use of money, gifts and other inducements to influence voters, warning that vote-buying undermines the constitutional principle that sovereignty belongs to the people.
“We are also concerned about the persistent use of money, gifts and other inducements to influence voters. Vote-buying directly undermines the constitutional principle that sovereignty belongs to the people,” SERAP said.
It cited Section 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, which states that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, and Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which it said criminalises bribery and other conduct intended to influence voters or secure electoral victory.
The 19 candidates listed by SERAP are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress; Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress; Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress; Senator Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party; Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress; Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party; Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick of the National Democratic Party; Chukwu Anita Zugwai of the Young Progressive Party; Rufai Adekunle Omoaje of the Action Alliance; and Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party.
Others are Memeh Samuel of the Democratic Labour Alliance; Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party; Okereke Sunday Chibuzor of the Labour Party; Okereke Iken Esther of the National Rescue Movement; Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party; Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed of the New Nigeria People’s Party; Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer of the Social Democratic Party; Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement; and Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party.
