By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented a proposed budget of N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections to the National Assembly, revealing a significant increase from the N313.4 billion allocated for the 2023 polls.
Presenting the proposal to the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, clarified that the submission complies with the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates that election budgets be prepared at least one year in advance.
The 2027 budget proposal encompasses operational costs, administrative expenses, technological upgrades, capital projects for elections, and miscellaneous expenditures.
In a related development, the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters is advocating for an additional N30 billion on top of INEC’s proposal. Lawmakers believe the extra funds, specifically targeted at logistics, would bolster the commission’s operational capacity and help address anticipated challenges to ensure greater efficiency during the nationwide polls.
Beyond the election-year budget, INEC also requested N171 billion to cover its operations in 2026. This allocation is intended to fund personnel costs, overheads, capital projects, and activities related to bye-elections and off-season polls scheduled for that year.
During the budget defence, the commission warned that the N140 billion currently proposed by the Ministry of Finance for 2026 is insufficient to meet its urgent and flexible funding needs. The 2027 election budget, meanwhile, is broken down into several categories covering the full spectrum of administrative, operational, technological, and electoral activities.
The substantial scale of the proposed budget has prompted questions from stakeholders regarding funding efficiency and financial transparency. As preparations for the 2027 elections gradually get underway, observers are highlighting the need for rigorous oversight to ensure that the management of such significant public funds translates into a smooth and credible electoral process.
