Declare Your Assets, SERAP Tells Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Other Presidential Candidates

Nigeria's presidential hopefuls for the 2027 election are facing a call to action from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The organization has urged all 19 presidential candidates, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, to publicly declare their assets and liabilities. This demand extends to disclosing the assets and liabilities of their spouses and, where applicable, unmarried children under the age of 18.

SERAP's open letter, dated August 8, 2026, and signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, also implores candidates to reveal the legitimate sources of their significant wealth. The organization is pushing for candidates to voluntarily adopt higher standards of transparency and accountability, going beyond the minimum legal requirements as they vie for Nigeria's highest elected office.

The letter specifically names prominent candidates, including President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, and Peter Obi of the National Democratic Congress, among others. SERAP argues that candidates seeking the significant powers associated with the presidency should be prepared for their personal financial affairs to undergo reasonable public scrutiny.

"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," SERAP stated. The organization believes that voters should be able to make informed decisions based on policies, competence, integrity, character, and vision, rather than solely on a candidate's financial standing.

SERAP further contends that pre-election asset disclosures would empower voters to identify potential conflicts of interest and scrutinize the origins of a candidate's wealth. This transparency would also establish a baseline for monitoring asset changes should a candidate eventually assume office.

“

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