morganaBLE politics : election watch
The organisation stressed that those seeking to govern the country must be willing to subject their personal finances to public scrutiny, especially given the enormous powers attached to the office of the President
KaNo—
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on all 19 presidential candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general election to publicly declare their assets and liabilities.
The call is aimed at strengthening transparency and public trust in the electoral process.
In an open letter dated August 8, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged the candidates to go beyond the minimum legal requirements by voluntarily disclosing their financial standing before seeking votes from Nigerians.
Among those named by INEC are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, and Peter Obi of the National Democratic Congress.
Others include Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, and Okwori Elizabeth Frederick of the National Democratic Party.
SERAP also listed several other candidates across different political platforms, including Chukwu Anita Zugwai, Rufai Omoaje, Adenuga Sunday, Memeh Samuel, Nwanyanwu Danerechukwu, Okereke Chibuzor, Okereke Esther, Abbas-Bin Aliyu, Dikwa Mohammed, Adebayo Adewole, Seyi Makinde, and Yusuf Kabiru.
The organisation stressed that those seeking to govern the country must be willing to subject their personal finances to public scrutiny, especially given the enormous powers attached to the office of the President.
“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,” SERAP stated.
SERAP Calls For Declaration Of Spouses’ Assets
Beyond the candidates themselves, the group urged them to disclose the assets and liabilities of their spouses and, where applicable, their unmarried children under the age of 18.
It also called for full disclosure of the legitimate sources of significant wealth, including business interests, investments, real estate holdings, gifts and inheritance.
According to SERAP, such disclosures would allow voters to better assess potential conflicts of interest and evaluate the integrity of those seeking the nation’s highest office.
“Voluntary pre-election disclosure would enable voters to assess potential conflicts of interest and significant sources of wealth, strengthen public confidence in the electoral process, and establish a baseline against which future changes in assets could be assessed if a candidate is elected,” the organisation said.
Group Calls On Nigerians To Choose Competent Candidate
The group further emphasised that Nigerians should make electoral choices based on competence, character and policy proposals rather than financial influence or spending power.
“Nigerians should not be asked to choose between candidates based on who can spend the most money. They should be able to choose based on policies, competence, integrity, character and their vision for Nigeria,” it added.
On the issue of electoral integrity, SERAP raised concerns about the persistent problem of vote-buying, describing it as a direct threat to democratic principles.
It warned that the distribution of money, food, transportation or other incentives in exchange for votes undermines the sovereignty of the people and distorts the true will of the electorate.
“We are 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,” the group said.
SERAP cited Section 14(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, which affirms that sovereignty resides with the people of Nigeria, as well as Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which criminalises bribery and related conduct intended to influence electoral outcomes.
According to the organisation, elections tainted by financial inducement cannot genuinely reflect the free political will of citizens.
“An election in which citizens’ votes are purchased, coerced or otherwise financially induced cannot genuinely reflect the free political will of the Nigerian people,” it stated.
SERAP Expresses Concern About Vote Buying
The group expressed particular concern about the impact of vote-buying in the context of widespread economic hardship, noting that vulnerable populations are often the most susceptible to such practices.
“Vote-buying is particularly harmful in circumstances of poverty and economic hardship because it exploits economic vulnerability and risks transforming a constitutional political right into a financial transaction,” SERAP added.
While acknowledging that the Constitution does not explicitly require presidential candidates to publicly declare their assets before an election, the organisation argued that the broader principles embedded in the document support transparency and accountability in public office.
It referenced provisions in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, which mandate public officers to declare their assets, as well as Section 140(1), which requires a President-elect to make such declarations before assuming office.
SERAP also drew on international legal frameworks, including Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees citizens the right to participate in public affairs and to vote and be elected in genuine periodic elections.
According to the organisation, these rights can only be meaningfully exercised when voters have access to sufficient information about candidates.
The group, therefore, urged all presidential contenders to sign and publish a public integrity pledge committing themselves and their campaign structures to peaceful, transparent and corruption-free elections.
It also called on candidates to report credible allegations of vote-buying involving their campaigns to appropriate authorities, stressing that accountability must begin within political parties and campaign organisations.
“The choice before Nigerians in 2027 should be a choice based on ideas, policies, competence and integrity, not on who can spend the most money or conceal the most wealth,” the organisation said.
As political activities gradually intensify ahead of the election, observers say the response of candidates to SERAP’s call may serve as an early indicator of their commitment to transparency and good governance.
