N800bn FAAC Funds Scandal: SERAP Drags INEC to Court Over Alleged APC Misuse

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated a significant legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Federal High Court in Abuja. SERAP seeks to compel INEC to thoroughly investigate serious allegations concerning the alleged diversion of approximately N800 billion from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations by governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). These funds are purportedly being channelled to finance political activities, specifically President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid for the 2027 general elections.

Filed last week and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, SERAP’s suit emerged following INEC’s perceived failure to act on reports suggesting that APC governors have been making monthly contributions from their FAAC allocations into a dedicated campaign fund. Beyond a mandated investigation, SERAP is also asking the court for orders directing INEC to ensure full disclosure of these alleged campaign funds, including the precise identities of donors and the lawful sources of the money, in strict adherence to the provisions of the Electoral Act.

The organisation asserts that these allegations, which are based on media reports and a published opinion article, raise profound questions about transparency and accountability in political financing within Nigeria. SERAP warns that if the use of public resources for campaign activities is indeed established, it would severely undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process. The group emphasizes that opaque campaign financing serves as a major entry point for corruption, eroding public confidence in democratic institutions and the legitimacy of the electoral system.

SERAP further argues that the Electoral Act unequivocally empowers INEC to regulate political donations, rigorously monitor campaign finances, and ensure compliance with all legal limits on political funding. It contends that in situations involving the potential diversion of public funds for electoral purposes, INEC bears a constitutional and statutory responsibility to actively exercise its investigative and regulatory powers. This mandate extends under the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, the UN Convention against Corruption, and various human rights treaties to ensure transparency in political financing and prevent undue influence in elections.

The rights group underscores that Nigerians possess a fundamental right to know who funds the candidates and political parties they support, along with the precise sources of any such funding. Citing Section 91 of the Electoral Act, SERAP highlighted that political parties exceeding prescribed donation limits face substantial fines of up to N10 million and forfeiture of excess funds, while individuals are liable to penalties five times the excess amount donated. The alleged abuse of state resources for electoral advantage, SERAP states, not only constitutes financial impropriety but also directly distorts electoral competition, posing a grave risk to the integrity of the upcoming 2027 general elections.

SERAP therefore urges the court to compel INEC to vigorously carry out its constitutional and statutory mandate in the overriding interest of transparency, accountability, and the overall credibility of the 2027 general elections. As of now, no specific date has been set for the hearing of the suit.