By Ahmed Yusuf | National News
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged 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.
SERAP also called on the candidates to disclose the legitimate sources of their significant assets, as well as relevant assets and liabilities belonging to their spouses and, where applicable, unmarried children below the age of 18.
The organisation made the demand in an open letter dated August 8, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
Among those listed by SERAP are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress; Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress; Senator Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party; and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress.
Others are 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; Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party; Memeh Samuel of the Democratic Labour Alliance; Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party; and Okereke Sunday Chibuzor of the Labour Party.
The list also includes Okereke Iken Esther of the National Rescue Movement; Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party; Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed of the New Nigeria People’s Party; Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer of the Social Democratic Party; Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement; and Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party.
SERAP urged the presidential candidates to voluntarily adopt higher standards of transparency and accountability beyond what is expressly required by law.
The organisation said candidates seeking the presidency should be prepared to demonstrate that their financial affairs can withstand reasonable public scrutiny before asking Nigerians to entrust them with control over public finances, natural resources, appointments and security institutions.
According to SERAP, Nigeria’s democracy belongs to its citizens and votes must not be bought or influenced through money, gifts or other inducements.
It also urged all the candidates to publicly reject vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the 2027 election.
SERAP noted that although the Nigerian Constitution does not expressly require presidential candidates to publish their asset declarations before an election, constitutional provisions promote transparency, accountability and integrity in public office.
The organisation pointed out that elected public officers, including the President, are required to declare their assets and liabilities.
It cited Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides for declarations of properties, assets and liabilities, including those of unmarried children below 18.
SERAP also referenced Section 140(1) of the Constitution, which requires a person elected President to make the prescribed declaration before assuming the functions of office.
On vote-buying, the organisation expressed concern over the continued use of money, gifts and other inducements to influence voters, warning that such practices undermine the constitutional principle that sovereignty belongs to the people.
SERAP further cited Section 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, which states that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, and Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which it said criminalises bribery and related conduct aimed at influencing voters or securing the return of a candidate.
The organisation maintained that the 2027 presidential election provides an opportunity for political leaders to demonstrate their commitment to transparency, accountability and the principle that public office is a public trust.
