SERAP challenges INEC to account for missing N55.9bn Election Budget

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to immediately account for the alleged diversion of N55.9 billion allocated for smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other materials used for the 2019 general elections.

SERAP said the allegations, detailed in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s latest annual report published on 9 September 2025, raise troubling questions about transparency and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes.

In a letter dated 6 December 2025 and signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation also requested INEC to disclose the identities, addresses, directors and shareholders of all contractors who reportedly received these funds without proper documentation or evidence of supply.

The group further asked the Commission to refer all suspected breaches to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution, insisting that any diverted funds must be fully recovered.

SERAP maintained that INEC must operate free of corruption if Nigerians’ right to participate in their own government is to be protected, arguing that corruption in the supply of election materials directly undermines the credibility of elections.

“According to the Auditor-General’s report, INEC “irregularly paid” N5.3 billion (N5,312,238,499.39) to a contractor for smart card readers without approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) or the Federal Executive Council.

“The payment was reportedly made without any supporting documents or evidence that the items were delivered. INEC claimed the procurement fell under national security and was therefore exempt from standard procedure, a justification the Auditor-General dismissed as inconsistent with the Procurement Act,” it said.

SERAP said the report also revealed that INEC paid N4.5 billion (N4,505,220,044.06) to six contractors for ballot papers and result sheets without evidence of bidding processes, eligibility verification, or BPP’s “No Objection” certificate, adding that the Auditor-General raised similar concerns over N331 million (N331,228,070.04) paid under suspicious circumstances, including contracts with contradictory supporting documents.

It said one contract for the supply of 25 generating sets was dated 28 December 2019, while the receipt for payment was issued on 15 January 2019, almost one year before the contract itself, suggesting contractors were paid before any formal award.

“The report further stated that INEC failed to deduct N2.19 billion (N2,193,484,804.06) in stamp duty from contractors between 2018 and 2019, with the Commission claiming it never received any directive to make such deductions.

“The Auditor-General rejected this explanation as unsatisfactory. In addition, INEC was unable to retire N630.6 million (N630,625,319.80) in cash advances issued to its officers, some of whom received multiple advances without clearing previous ones.

“Another major concern involved the award of contracts worth N41.3 billion (N41,312,066,801.00) for printing ballot papers, result sheets and voting point result sheets.

“The Auditor-General reported that these contracts were awarded without due process to companies operating in unrelated sectors such as civil engineering, oil and gas, and building materials importation, contrary to financial regulations. There was no record of their eligibility, no evidence of previous work, and no approval from the Federal Executive Council or BPP.

“The investigation also found that INEC “irregularly awarded” a contract for four Toyota Land Cruisers worth N297.7 million (N297,777,776.00). Market assessments reportedly showed that the price of a Toyota Land Cruiser in 2019 did not exceed N50 million, yet the Commission claimed it paid N74 million for each vehicle.

“Across all findings, the Auditor-General repeatedly raised concerns that these funds “may have been diverted” and insisted that they be recovered and remitted to the treasury,” the body said.

SERAP warned that these allegations represent a serious breach of public trust and violate both national laws and Nigeria’s international obligations. It said INEC’s capacity to guarantee impartial and credible elections would be severely compromised if the issues were not addressed and those responsible, including contractors, were not prosecuted.

The organisation asked INEC to take the recommended steps within seven days of receiving the letter, warning that failing this, it would institute legal proceedings to compel compliance in the public interest.