INEC proposes nearly ₦873.78bn to conduct 2027 elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission has told the National Assembly of Nigeria that it will require ₦873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections, alongside ₦171bn to fund its routine operations in the 2026 fiscal year.

INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while presenting the commission’s budget proposal before the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja, describing the figures as necessary for both election preparation and regular activities, including by-elections and off-season polls.

The proposed ₦873.78bn marks a sharp rise from the ₦313.4bn released for the 2023 general elections.

According to the commission, the 2027 election budget will cover five key components: ₦379.75bn for operations, ₦92.32bn for administration, ₦209.21bn for technology, ₦154.91bn for capital expenditure and ₦42.61bn for miscellaneous costs.

The amount does not include a fresh request by the National Youth Service Corps for increased allowances for corps members engaged as ad hoc election staff.

For 2026, INEC proposed ₦171bn, exceeding the ₦140bn budget envelope provided by the Federal Ministry of Finance Nigeria. The breakdown includes ₦109bn for personnel, ₦18.7bn for overheads, ₦42.63bn for election-related activities and ₦1.4bn for capital projects.

Amupitan criticised the envelope budgeting system as unsuitable for INEC’s time-sensitive operations and highlighted the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major challenge affecting election logistics.

Lawmakers backed the commission’s request. Senator Adams Oshiomhole opposed external limits on INEC’s budget framework, while Representative Billy Osawaru urged that the commission’s funding be placed on first-line charge to guarantee timely releases.

The committee approved a motion recommending a one-time release of INEC’s annual allocation and said it would also review the NYSC’s ₦32bn request to raise allowances for corps members to ₦125,000 during election duties.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Simon Lalong, assured legislative support, while his House counterpart, Bayo Balogun, cautioned the commission against making commitments it may struggle to meet, referencing past concerns over the use of INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Nigeria is scheduled to hold general elections in 2027, with off-cycle polls and by-elections continuing in the interim.