Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has formally notified the National Assembly of its financial requirements for the next general election cycle, requesting N873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections.
The commission also proposed a budget of N171 billion for its operations in the 2026 fiscal year, covering routine activities, off-cycle elections, and preparatory groundwork for the nationwide polls scheduled for 2027.
The projected N873.78 billion election budget represents a sharp increase from the N313.4 billion released by the Federal Government for the 2023 general elections. The new estimate has already triggered robust discussions among lawmakers, particularly around funding structure, accountability, and operational efficiency.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figures while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the estimated cost of the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Amupitan, the N873.78 billion figure covers the comprehensive conduct of the 2027 general elections nationwide. Meanwhile, the N171 billion proposal for 2026 is designed to fund the commission’s regular statutory responsibilities, including by-elections, off-season governorship elections, and administrative operations.
Nigeria is scheduled to hold general elections in 2027, while Ekiti and Osun states will conduct governorship elections this year, alongside polls in the Federal Capital Territory and other pending by-elections arising from vacancies in legislative seats.
Providing a breakdown of the 2027 election estimate, the INEC chairman explained that the budget was structured across five major expenditure categories.
“N379.75 billion is for operational costs, N92.32 billion for administrative costs, N209.21 billion for technological costs, N154.91 billion for election capital costs, and N42.61 billion for miscellaneous expenses,” Amupitan told lawmakers.
He clarified that the proposed amount did not include a fresh request by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for increased allowances for corps members deployed as ad hoc staff during elections. The NYSC has reportedly sought about N32 billion to raise election duty allowances to N125,000 per corps member.
Amupitan emphasized that the election budget was prepared in compliance with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates INEC to prepare and submit its election budget at least one year before the general election.
On the commission’s 2026 fiscal year proposal, he revealed that the Ministry of Finance had issued a budget envelope of N140 billion. However, INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171 billion — exceeding the envelope allocation.
The 2026 proposal includes N109 billion for personnel costs, N18.7 billion for overheads, N42.63 billion for election-related activities, and N1.4 billion for capital expenditure.
Amupitan raised concerns about the envelope budgeting system, arguing that it is not well suited to INEC’s operational realities. He noted that the commission’s activities often require urgent and flexible funding to respond to unforeseen electoral developments, including court-ordered reruns and by-elections.
He further identified the absence of a dedicated communications network as a significant operational constraint. According to him, developing an independent network infrastructure would not only enhance operational efficiency but also strengthen public accountability in cases of technical disruptions.
“If we develop our own network infrastructure, Nigerians will be better positioned to hold us accountable for any technical disruptions,” he noted, alluding to persistent criticisms over result transmission systems in previous elections.
Lawmakers at the session expressed mixed reactions but generally signaled support for ensuring adequate funding for the commission.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) argued that given the sensitive and constitutional nature of INEC’s mandate, external agencies should not dictate its budgeting framework. He advocated scrapping the envelope budgeting model for the commission and urged the National Assembly to align with INEC’s financial proposal to prevent underfunding that could compromise electoral integrity.
Similarly, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided by the Constitution. He stressed that funds should be released in full and on time to allow for early and effective planning ahead of the 2027 elections.
Osawaru noted that delayed or partial releases could undermine procurement timelines, logistics planning, and technological upgrades essential for credible polls.
The Joint Committee on Electoral Matters subsequently approved a motion recommending the one-time release of INEC’s annual budget to enhance operational predictability.
The committee also indicated that it would consider the NYSC’s request for N32 billion to increase allowances for corps members engaged as ad hoc electoral staff. Corps members have historically played a critical role in Nigeria’s elections, serving as presiding officers and polling assistants across thousands of voting units nationwide.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Lalong, assured the commission of legislative backing, stating that the National Assembly would work closely with INEC to ensure it receives the necessary financial and institutional support to deliver credible elections in 2027.
“We will collaborate with the commission to ensure that it is adequately supported,” Lalong said.
However, lawmakers also cautioned the commission against overpromising, particularly in the area of technology and result transmission.
Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, reminded INEC of controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections, particularly assurances regarding the uploading of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
“IReV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations,” Balogun said. “Be careful how you make promises.”
His remarks reflect lingering concerns among lawmakers and sections of the public about the gap between regulatory guidelines and statutory provisions in election management.
As preparations gradually begin for the 2027 polls, the scale of INEC’s proposed budget underscores the increasing financial demands of conducting nationwide elections in Africa’s most populous democracy. The coming months are expected to witness further scrutiny of the proposed figures, with debates likely to center on cost efficiency, technological investments, and institutional accountability.
For now, the commission has laid out its financial roadmap, leaving the National Assembly to determine how best to balance fiscal prudence with the imperative of credible and transparent elections.
