By Adenike Lawal
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, to publicly account for an alleged ₦55.9bn spent on smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other materials for the 2019 general elections.
Citing the latest Auditor-General’s report released on September 9, 2025, SERAP said the audit uncovered multiple procurement violations.
In a letter dated December 6 and signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged INEC to publish the names of all contractors involved and refer the matter to anti-corruption agencies.
According to the audit, INEC paid ₦5.3bn for smart card readers without evidence of supply and over ₦4.5bn to six contractors for ballot papers and result sheets with no proof of delivery.
The Auditor-General also dismissed INEC’s national security justification for bypassing procurement rules.
Other red flags include missing eligibility documents, irregular advance payments, failure to deduct ₦2.1bn in stamp duties, unretired cash advances of ₦630.6m and more than ₦41bn in contracts awarded without due process, some to firms outside the printing sector. One contract for four Toyota Land Cruisers was valued at ₦297m, despite 2019 market prices estimated below ₦50m per vehicle.
SERAP described the revelations as a grave breach of public trust, warning that credible elections are impossible without transparency.
The group gave INEC seven days to respond or face legal action.
