The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on all 19 presidential candidates announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publicly disclose their assets and liabilities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The organisation also wants the candidates to disclose the assets and liabilities of their spouses and, where applicable, their unmarried children below the age of 18.
SERAP made the demand in an open letter dated August 8, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
The organisation further urged the presidential candidates to disclose the legitimate sources of their significant assets and publicly commit to rejecting vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the election.
SERAP asked the candidates to direct their political parties, campaign organisations, agents and supporters not to offer or distribute money, gifts, food, transportation benefits or other material incentives in exchange for votes.
The presidential candidates listed by the organisation include President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Donald Duke of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Chukwu Anita Zugwai of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Rufai Adekunle Omoaje of the Action Alliance (AA), and Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party, among others.
SERAP said the candidates should voluntarily go beyond what is required by law by embracing higher standards of transparency, accountability and integrity as they seek the country’s highest elected office.
According to the organisation, candidates seeking the mandate to exercise constitutional powers over public finances, natural resources, appointments and security institutions should be prepared to subject their financial affairs to reasonable public scrutiny.
“Nigerians should not be asked to choose between candidates on the basis of who can spend the most money. They should be able to choose on the basis of policies, competence, integrity, character and their vision for Nigeria,” SERAP said.
The organisation said voluntary pre-election asset disclosure would give voters an opportunity to identify potential conflicts of interest and examine significant sources of wealth before casting their ballots.
SERAP added that such disclosure could strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and establish a reference point for monitoring significant changes in the assets of candidates who eventually win the election.
It said the 2027 presidential election provides an opportunity for political leaders to demonstrate that public office is a public trust.
“Candidates who voluntarily disclose their assets and reject vote-buying can show that they are prepared to uphold the transparency and accountability they promise to deliver if elected,” the organisation said.
Constitutional provisions
SERAP acknowledged that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, does not expressly require presidential candidates to publish their asset declarations before an election.
However, the organisation argued that the Constitution contains broader principles relating to transparency, accountability, integrity in public office and citizens’ participation in governance.
It noted that elected public officers, including the President, are required to declare their assets and liabilities.
SERAP cited Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution, which requires public officers to declare their properties, assets and liabilities, including those belonging to their unmarried children below 18.
It also referred to Section 140(1) of the Constitution, which requires a person elected President to make the prescribed declaration before assuming the functions of the office.
The organisation further relied on Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects citizens’ rights to participate in public affairs and to vote and be elected in genuine periodic elections.
SERAP argued that voters cannot fully exercise these rights if they are denied relevant information that could help them scrutinise individuals seeking public office.
“These rights cannot be meaningfully exercised where voters are denied relevant information necessary to scrutinise those seeking to govern them,” it said.
SERAP raises concerns over vote-buying
The organisation also expressed concern over the continued use of money, gifts and other inducements to influence voters during elections.
SERAP described vote-buying as a serious threat to electoral integrity, arguing that it undermines the constitutional principle that sovereignty belongs to the people.
It cited Section 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, which provides that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria.
The organisation also cited Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which it said criminalises bribery and related conduct intended to secure the return of a person to elective office or influence the vote of an elector.
According to SERAP, elections cannot genuinely reflect the will of the people when voters are financially induced, coerced or persuaded to exchange their votes for money or material benefits.
It said vote-buying becomes particularly damaging in an environment of widespread economic hardship because it exploits the financial vulnerability of citizens and risks reducing a constitutional political right to a financial transaction.
Integrity pledge demanded
SERAP therefore urged the presidential candidates to publish their assets and liabilities before the 2027 election, including relevant declarations relating to their spouses and unmarried children below 18.
The organisation also asked candidates to disclose the legitimate sources of significant assets, including business interests, investments, real estate, substantial gifts and inheritance, while taking reasonable steps to protect legitimate personal security and privacy.
It further called on the candidates to:
– Commit to updating their public asset declarations if elected and explain any material increase in their wealth.
– Publicly reject vote-buying and electoral bribery.
– Direct their parties, campaign organisations, agents and supporters not to distribute money, gifts, food, transportation benefits or other material inducements in exchange for votes.
– Report credible allegations of vote-buying involving their campaign organisations to the appropriate authorities.
– Sign and publish a public integrity pledge committing themselves, their political parties and campaign organisations to peaceful, transparent, accountable and corruption-free elections.
SERAP said compliance with the demands would help demonstrate that the candidates are committed to transparency and accountability before seeking the mandate of Nigerians.
“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.
