The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned that the electoral body cannot be regarded as genuinely independent unless it is granted full financial autonomy ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking while defending the commission’s proposed budget for the 2027 polls before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, Amupitan argued that the current budgetary “envelope system” operated through the Ministry of Finance undermines INEC’s constitutional independence and limits its ability to function without external influence.
He said true electoral independence extends beyond legal protections and must include the freedom to determine and access the resources required to organise credible elections.
“The envelope system is not good for the running of INEC if INEC must be truly independent,” he told lawmakers, urging the National Assembly to strengthen the commission’s financial autonomy in line with its constitutional mandate.
Amupitan also defended the commission’s proposed ₦873.78 billion budget for the 2027 general election, explaining that the funds would cover election operations, technology deployment, capital projects and administrative costs. He stressed that significant investment in technology, including electronic transmission of results, is essential to improve transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
According to the INEC chairman, while the commission remains committed to delivering credible, transparent and inclusive elections, achieving that goal requires not only adequate funding but also the financial independence needed to insulate it from political and administrative interference.
