Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Professor Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), “to promptly account for the missing or diverted N55.9 billion meant for the purchase of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other election materials for the 2019 general elections.”
SERAP said the grave allegations are documented in the latest annual report published by the Auditor-General on 9 September 2025.
SERAP also urged him to “disclose the names of the contractors that reportedly collected over N55.9 billion for the purchase of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other election materials for the 2019 general elections, including details of the directors and shareholders as well as the contractors’ addresses.”
SERAP urged him to “refer to these grave violations of constitutional and international standards to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for prosecution, as appropriate, and to ensure the full recovery of proceeds of corruption.”
In the letter dated 6 December 2025 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “INEC must operate without corruption if the commission is to uphold Nigerians’ right to participation in their own government.”
SERAP said, “Allegations of corruption in the supply of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other election materials directly undermine Nigerians’ right to participate in elections that are free, fair, transparent, and credible.”
According to SERAP, “INEC cannot properly carry out its constitutional and statutory responsibilities to conduct free and fair elections in the country if it continues to fail to uphold the basic principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law.”
The letter, read in part: “These allegations also constitute abuse of public office and show the urgent need by INEC under your leadership to commit to transparency, accountability, clean governance and the rule of law.”
“According to the recently published 2022 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ‘irregularly paid’ over N5.3 billion [N5,312,238,499.39] ‘to a contractor for the supply of Smart Card Readers for the 2019 general elections.’”
“The contract was awarded without prior approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Executive Council. The payment was also ‘made without any document and any evidence of supplies to the commission.’”
“INEC claimed approval was not sought because ‘the supply of smart card readers falls under national defence or national security and therefore exempted under the Procurement Act.’”
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“But the Auditor-General rejected the claim as ‘alien to the Procurement Act’, and stated that ‘INEC ought to have received a Certificate of No Objection from the BPP for the contract.’” He is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
“INEC also reportedly ‘paid over N4.5 billion [N4,505,220,044.06] to six contractors for ballot papers/result sheets’, but ‘the payments were without any documentary evidence of supply from the contractors.’ There was no evidence of advertisement, bid submission, bid evaluation, approvals and no Certificate of No Objection’.”
“There was also ‘no evidence of the contractors’ eligibility’, as ‘INEC failed to show the contractors’ Tax clearance certificate, pension clearance certificate, NSITF certificate, ITF certificate of compliance, and BPP registration.’”
“The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
“These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], national anticorruption laws, and the country’s international obligations.”
“INEC cannot ensure impartial administration of future elections if these allegations are not satisfactorily addressed, suspected perpetrators including the contractors involved are not prosecuted and the proceeds of corruption are not fully recovered.”
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.
