The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on presidential candidates ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 election to publicly disclose their assets and liabilities before seeking votes from Nigerians.
The organisation also wants the candidates to disclose relevant financial information involving their spouses and, where applicable, unmarried children below the age of 18.
SERAP made the demand in an open letter dated August 8, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
The organisation said candidates seeking the presidency should demonstrate a commitment to transparency and accountability by voluntarily making their financial records available to the public.
SERAP Names Tinubu, Atiku, Obi and Other Candidates
Among the 19 presidential candidates referenced by SERAP are President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC).
Others listed include Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Chukwu Anita Zugwai of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Rufai Adekunle Omoaje of the Action Alliance (AA), and Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party.
Also named were Memeh Samuel of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA), Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Okereke Sunday Chibuzor of the Labour Party (LP), 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 (NNPP), Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
SERAP said the candidates should consider voluntarily adopting higher standards of financial disclosure rather than limiting themselves to what is strictly required by law.
Organisation Calls for Greater Transparency
According to SERAP, anyone seeking the presidency and asking Nigerians to entrust them with significant powers over public finances, natural resources, appointments and national security should be prepared to allow reasonable scrutiny of their personal financial affairs.
The organisation argued that publicly declaring assets before an election would give voters an opportunity to assess the financial interests of candidates before deciding whom to support.
SERAP said the 2027 presidential election could provide an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate that they view public office as a responsibility and a public trust.
The organisation also called on the candidates to identify the legitimate sources of their significant assets and publicly commit to rejecting vote-buying and electoral bribery.
SERAP Cites Constitutional Provisions
SERAP acknowledged that the Nigerian Constitution does not expressly require presidential candidates to publish their asset declarations before an election.
However, it maintained that the Constitution contains provisions promoting transparency and accountability among public officials.
The organisation cited Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule, which provides for asset and liability declarations by public officers, including declarations relating to certain assets belonging to their unmarried children below the age of 18.
SERAP also referenced Section 140(1) of the Constitution, which requires a person elected as President to make the prescribed declaration before assuming the functions of the office.
Based on these provisions, the organisation said presidential candidates could choose to make their financial records public before the election as a voluntary transparency measure.
Call to Reject Vote-Buying
Beyond asset declarations, SERAP expressed concern about the use of money, gifts and other inducements to influence voters during elections.
The organisation urged all 19 presidential candidates to publicly reject vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the 2027 election.
SERAP argued that vote-buying undermines citizens’ ability to freely exercise their constitutional right to choose their leaders.
It referred to Section 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, which states 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 influence voters or secure the election of a candidate.
SERAP said a public commitment by presidential candidates against vote-buying would help strengthen confidence in the electoral process.
It added that candidates who embrace greater transparency and reject electoral inducements would demonstrate their willingness to uphold the accountability standards expected of them if elected.
The organisation therefore encouraged all presidential candidates to make their asset declarations and financial interests publicly accessible and to commit themselves to conducting their campaigns without vote-buying or electoral bribery.