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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

SERAP Demands Asset Declarations from 2027 Presidential Candidates

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • SERAP urged 19 presidential candidates to publicly declare their assets and liabilities, including those of their spouses and unmarried children under 18.
  • The organization also called on candidates to disclose the legitimate sources of their significant wealth and publicly reject vote-buying.
  • SERAP stated that voluntary pre-election asset disclosure would enhance transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the electoral process.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on all 19 presidential candidates to publicly declare their assets and liabilities before the 2027 general elections. The anti-corruption organization also urged candidates to disclose the financial details of their spouses and unmarried children under 18, along with the legitimate sources of their substantial wealth.

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.

— SERAPThe organization explained the rationale behind demanding pre-election asset declarations.

In an open letter, SERAP requested that candidates also publicly commit to rejecting vote-buying and electoral bribery. The organization emphasized that presidential hopefuls should voluntarily adhere to higher standards of transparency and accountability, going beyond minimum legal requirements. Candidates seeking to govern Nigeria, SERAP argued, must be willing to have their personal financial affairs scrutinized by the public.

Nigeria’s democracy belongs to its citizens. Votes must not be bought. Public office must not be treated as private property.

— SERAPSERAP stressed the principles of democratic accountability and integrity in public office.

SERAP highlighted that Nigeria's democracy belongs to its citizens and that votes should not be for sale, nor public office treated as private property. Those aspiring to the highest public office, the organization stated, must meet the most stringent standards of transparency, accountability, and integrity.

Those seeking the highest public office must be willing to meet the highest standards of transparency, accountability and integrity.

— SERAPThe organization set a high bar for presidential candidates regarding ethical conduct.

The organization believes that publishing candidates' assets before the election will empower voters to examine their financial interests and identify potential conflicts of interest. This voluntary pre-election disclosure, SERAP contends, will strengthen public trust in the electoral process and establish a benchmark for assessing future changes in candidates' assets.

Voluntary pre-election disclosure would enable voters to assess potential conflicts of interest and significant sources of wealth, strengthen public confidence in the electoral process, and establish a baseline against which future changes in assets could be assessed if a

— SERAPSERAP outlined the benefits of pre-election asset disclosure for voters and the electoral system.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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