Five lawmakers from Japan's governing party have officially offered to explain themselves before a political ethics council of the Lower House over a fundraising scandal that has rocked the party.

The lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party submitted papers to the chair of the Lower House Deliberative Council on Political Ethics on Thursday.

The council is expected to hold an executive meeting as early as Monday for the ruling and opposition parties to arrange dates and other details, such as whether to hold open or closed sessions.

If the council is convened, it would be the first time since 2009.

The move comes after strong demands from opposition parties for lawmakers to attend the council to answer questions about their fundraising parties.

Major Liberal Democratic Party factions are suspected of failing to declare parts of revenue from fundraising events and giving kickbacks to members.

The scandal has led to the indictments of current and former lawmakers, as well as their treasurers. They face charges of failing to fully report revenue from political fundraising parties, in violation of the political funds control law. Most of them were members of what used to be the LDP's largest faction. It was led by the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

The five lawmakers who filed their attendance are former education minister Shionoya Ryu, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu, former economy and industry minister Nishimura Yasutoshi, former Diet affairs chief Takagi Tsuyoshi, and former internal affairs minister Takeda Ryota.

Shionoya, Matsuno, Nishimura and Takagi all served as secretary generals for the Abe faction. Takeda was the secretary general of the Nikai faction, led by former LDP Secretary General Nikai Toshihiro. Both factions are in the process of disbanding.

The LDP is considering convening the council in the middle of next week. Plans to convene council hearings over two days are also being floated.

The Lower House Deliberative Council on Political Ethics is responsible for examining the political and moral conduct of lawmakers.

It can be convened when nine or more of the council's 25 members file a request or lawmakers facing allegations do so. In principle, council sessions are held behind closed doors.

Following deliberations, the council can admonish lawmakers, such as asking them to refrain from attending Diet sessions for a certain period. But no lawmaker has ever been admonished as a result of council hearings.

Opposition lawmakers are demanding that the council hold open sessions over the fundraising scandal.