• Group urges 19 presidential candidates to sign integrity pledge ahead of 2027 poll
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the 19 presidential candidates announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission to publicly declare their assets and liabilities and reject vote-buying ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
SERAP also asked the candidates to disclose the legitimate sources of their significant assets and make public relevant financial information involving their spouses and, where applicable, unmarried children below the age of 18.
The organisation made the demands in an open letter dated August 8, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
The presidential candidates include President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress; Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress; Peter Obi of the National Democratic Congress; Senator Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party; Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress; Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party; Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick of the National Democratic Party; Chukwu Anita Zugwai of the Young Progressive Party; Rufai Adekunle Omoaje of the Action Alliance and Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party.
Others are Memeh Samuel of the Democratic Leadership Alliance; Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party; Okereke Sunday Chibuzor of the Labour Party; Okereke Iken Esther of the National Rescue Movement; Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party; Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed of the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer of the Social Democratic Party; Seyi Makinde of the Accord Party and Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party.
SERAP said candidates seeking to occupy the nation’s highest elected office should be prepared to subject their financial affairs to reasonable public scrutiny.
The organisation said, “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.”
It argued that voluntary disclosure before the election would enable voters to identify possible conflicts of interest and scrutinise the sources of candidates’ wealth.
According to the group, such disclosure would also provide a benchmark against which changes in the assets of candidates could be assessed if they are elected.
SERAP raises concerns over vote-buying
The organisation also expressed concern over the persistent use of money, gifts and other material inducements to influence voters during elections.
SERAP urged all 19 candidates to publicly and unequivocally reject vote-buying and electoral bribery and direct their parties, campaign organisations, agents and supporters not to distribute money or other benefits in exchange for votes.
It said, “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 further warned that vote-buying could undermine the ability of citizens to freely exercise their constitutional right to choose their leaders.
It noted that the practice was particularly damaging in communities facing poverty and economic hardship because it could exploit the financial vulnerability of voters and turn a political right into a financial transaction.
The organisation cited Section 14(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, as well as Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which criminalises bribery and related conduct aimed at procuring the return of a person to elective office or influencing the vote of an elector.
SERAP said an election in which voters were financially induced could not genuinely reflect the free political will of Nigerians.
Group cites constitutional requirement
On asset declarations, SERAP acknowledged that the Constitution does not expressly require presidential candidates to publish their asset declarations before an election.
However, it argued that existing constitutional provisions on transparency and accountability provide a strong basis for candidates seeking the presidency to voluntarily disclose relevant financial information.
The organisation 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 of unmarried children below 18.
It also referred to Section 140(1), which requires a person elected President to make the prescribed declaration before assuming the functions of the office.
SERAP further cited Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects citizens’ rights to participate in public affairs and vote and be elected in genuine periodic elections.
The group maintained that voters required relevant information about those seeking to govern them in order to make informed electoral choices.
It said, “Nigeria’s democracy belongs to its citizens. Votes must not be bought. Public office must not be treated as private property. Those seeking the highest public office must be willing to meet the highest standards of transparency, accountability and integrity.”
SERAP demands integrity pledge
SERAP asked the 19 candidates to publish their assets and liabilities before the election, including relevant declarations involving their spouses and unmarried children under 18.
They were also urged to disclose the legitimate sources of significant assets, including business interests, investments, real estate, substantial gifts and inheritance, while taking reasonable measures to protect legitimate privacy and personal security.
The organisation further wants candidates who emerge victorious to commit to updating their public declarations and explaining significant increases in their wealth.
In addition, SERAP asked the candidates to direct their campaign organisations and political associates not to distribute money, food, transportation benefits or other material inducements in exchange for votes.
The candidates were also urged to report credible allegations of vote-buying involving their campaign organisations to the appropriate authorities.
Finally, SERAP called on the presidential candidates to sign and publish a public integrity pledge committing themselves, their parties and campaign organisations to peaceful, transparent, accountable and corruption-free elections.
The organisation said the 2027 presidential election presented an opportunity for political leaders to demonstrate that public office was a public trust.
It maintained that Nigerians should be able to make their choice based on “ideas, policies, competence and integrity”, rather than on which candidate could spend the most money or conceal the most wealth.
