By David Lawani, Abuja
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has challenged the 19 presidential candidates announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publicly disclose their assets and liabilities and reject vote-buying ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The organisation also urged the candidates to disclose the legitimate sources of their significant assets, including relevant financial interests of their spouses and unmarried children below 18, subject to legitimate privacy and security considerations.
In an open letter dated August 8, 2026, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation asked the candidates to go beyond the minimum legal requirements governing asset declaration voluntarily.
SERAP argued that candidates seeking the presidency should demonstrate the transparency and integrity they would be expected to uphold if elected.
“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 said.
Among the presidential candidates listed by SERAP are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, ADC; Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC; former Kaduna Central Senator, Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, AAC.
Others are former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP; Okwori Ada Elizabeth 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.
The list also includes Memeh Samuel of the Democratic Leadership 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, NRM; Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Allied Democratic Party, ADP; and Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.
Seyi Makinde of the Action Peoples Movement, APM; Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer of the Social Democratic Party, SDP; and Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party, APP, complete the list.
SERAP said the 2027 election should give Nigerians the opportunity to assess presidential contenders based on policies, competence, character and integrity rather than financial muscle.
“Nigerians should not be asked to choose between candidates based on who can spend the most money. They should be able to choose based on policies, competence, integrity, character and their vision for Nigeria,” it said.
The organisation also called on all the candidates to publicly and unequivocally reject vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the election.
It asked them to direct their parties, campaign organisations, agents and supporters not to offer money, gifts, food, transportation benefits or other material inducements in exchange for votes.
SERAP further urged candidates to report credible allegations of vote-buying involving their campaign organisations or political associates to the appropriate authorities.
The organisation said voluntary publication of assets before the election would enable voters to identify potential conflicts of interest and provide a baseline for assessing significant changes in the wealth of elected officials.
