The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission over its alleged failure to account for N55.9 billion meant for the purchase of election materials for the 2019 general elections.

SERAP, in a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday, said the funds were meant for the procurement of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other election materials.

The organisation said the allegations are contained in the latest annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on September 9, 2025.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to account for the missing or diverted ₦55.9 billion meant to buy smart card readers, ballot papers, and other election materials for the 2019 general elections.”

It is also asking the court for “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to disclose the names of all contractors paid the ₦55.9 billion for the procurement of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets, and other election materials for the 2019 general elections, including the names of their directors and shareholders.”

Detailing the figure, the organisation, in the suit filed by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, also cited a 2022 audited report of the AGF, alleging that “INEC ‘irregularly paid’ over N5.3 billion [N5,312,238,499.39] to a contractor for the supply of smart card readers for the 2019 general elections.

“The contract was awarded without prior approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Executive Council. The payment was also ‘made without any document. There was no evidence of supplies to the commission.’

INEC claimed approval was not sought because ‘the supply of smart card readers falls under national defence or national security and therefore exempted under the Procurement Act.’”

According to SERAP, the Auditor-General rejected the claim as “alien to the Procurement Act” and stated that “INEC ought to have received a Certificate of No Objection from the BPP for the contract.”

“He is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury,” the organisation added.

SERAP also said the report alleged that INEC paid over N4.5 billion to six contractors for ballot papers and result sheets without documentary evidence of supply or proof of due procurement process, including advertisement, bid evaluation, approvals or certificates of eligibility.

Other allegations cited in the report include the payment of over N331 million to contractors under questionable circumstances, failure to deduct and remit over N2.1 billion in stamp duties, non-retirement of over N630 million in cash advances to INEC officers, and the award of contracts worth over N41 billion for printing election materials without due process.

SERAP added that the AGF also reportedly queried the award of a contract for the supply of four Toyota Land Cruisers to INEC for over N297 million, noting that market surveys showed the vehicles did not cost more than N50 million each at the time, while INEC allegedly paid N74 million per vehicle.

The organisation argued that INEC must operate without corruption if it is to ensure free and fair elections and uphold Nigerians’ right to participate in the electoral process.