2027: SERAP demands Tinubu, Atiku, Obi declare assets

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the 19 presidential hopefuls announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission to openly disclose their financial information before the 2027 election. This request includes revealing the assets, liabilities, and sources of wealth for the candidates themselves, their spouses, and any unmarried children under 18.

Additionally, SERAP urged the candidates to publicly oppose bribery and vote-buying in the electoral process. The organization, led by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, urged the candidates to adhere to higher standards of transparency, accountability, and integrity, emphasizing that Nigeria's democracy belongs to its citizens and that public office should not be treated as private property.

SERAP believes that voluntary pre-election disclosure of candidates' assets would allow voters to scrutinize their financial interests and identify potential conflicts of interest, ultimately strengthening public confidence in the electoral process and providing a baseline for assessing any subsequent changes in the candidates' wealth if they are elected.