By Chimdiogo Amuh 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit 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 by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said the funds were intended for the purchase of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other electoral materials.

According to the organisation, the allegations are contained in the latest annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF), published on September 9, 2025.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026, was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja. SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus compelling INEC to account for the alleged missing or diverted ₦55.9 billion.

The group is also asking the court to direct INEC to disclose the names of all contractors paid from the funds, including details of their directors and shareholders.

SERAP, through its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, cited findings from a 2022 audited AGF report which alleged that INEC irregularly paid over ₦5.3 billion to a contractor for the supply of smart card readers without obtaining approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) or the Federal Executive Council.

The report further alleged that the payment was made without supporting documentation or evidence of supply. INEC reportedly claimed the procurement was exempted from the Procurement Act on national security grounds, a justification the Auditor-General rejected as invalid.

The AGF reportedly warned that the funds “may have been diverted” and called for their recovery and remittance to the treasury.

SERAP also referenced allegations that INEC paid over ₦4.5 billion to six contractors for ballot papers and result sheets without proof of supply or compliance with due procurement procedures.

Other issues raised in the report include questionable payments of over ₦331 million to contractors, failure to remit more than ₦2.1 billion in stamp duties, non-retirement of over ₦630 million in cash advances, and the award of contracts worth more than ₦41 billion for printing election materials without due process.

The report also queried the purchase of four Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles for over ₦297 million, noting that INEC allegedly paid ₦74 million per vehicle despite market surveys indicating a lower cost at the time.

SERAP stressed that transparency and accountability are critical for INEC to conduct credible elections and safeguard Nigerians’ democratic rights.

No hearing date has been fixed for the suit.