The Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has called for increased funding to enable the electoral body to effectively prepare for and conduct the 2027 general elections, warning that credible polls require sustained financial support and early planning.
Amupitan said adequate and timely funding would be critical to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process, improving logistics, deploying technology, enhancing voter education, and ensuring the commission delivers elections that meet democratic standards.
The INEC chairman stressed that organising nationwide elections in Africa’s most populous country is a complex undertaking that demands substantial financial resources, particularly as the commission intensifies preparations for the next electoral cycle.
He noted that beyond election-day operations, additional funding would support the continuous voter registration exercise, procurement of electoral materials, training of ad hoc personnel, security coordination, and the maintenance and upgrade of electoral technologies designed to improve transparency and public confidence.
The appeal comes as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, with political parties expected to begin internal consultations and strategic preparations in the coming months.
Analysts say early budgetary provisions for INEC could help the commission avoid the logistical and operational challenges that have affected previous elections, while reinforcing the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The commission has repeatedly maintained that predictable and sufficient funding remains one of the key pillars for delivering free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections across the country.
