The Independent National Electoral Commission has urged the Federal Government to promptly release its outstanding 2026 budgetary allocations, saying timely funding is critical to the successful preparation and conduct of the 2027 general elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, made the appeal on Tuesday while addressing a world press conference on the commission’s preparations for the elections.
Amupitan said organising a national election of the scale of the 2027 polls required adequate financial resources and fiscal discipline.
He acknowledged the Federal Government’s continued release of statutory allocations to the commission but said INEC was still awaiting the disbursement of outstanding funds to prevent disruptions to its activities.
“Executing a national election of this magnitude requires robust financial backing and fiscal discipline.
“The Federal Government has maintained its commitment to democratic governance through the timely release of statutory budgetary allocations to the commission, operating under a framework of transparent fiscal management,” he said.
The INEC chairman said funds already released had enabled the commission to meet international vendor obligations, finance the production of critical election technology, upgrade its infrastructure and sustain operational deployments across the country.
“However, we expect the prompt release of the remaining budgets to ensure seamless execution of the activities,” Amupitan added.
The commission’s appeal comes amid its preparations for the 2027 general elections and the funding requirements associated with the exercise.
In February, while defending INEC’s 2026 budget before the National Assembly, Amupitan disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Finance had provided a budget envelope of N140bn, against the commission’s total proposed expenditure of N171bn for the year.
The proposed N171bn comprised N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital expenditure.
INEC had also informed the National Assembly that it would require N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections.
The projected election expenditure includes N379.75bn for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative expenses, N209.21bn for technology, N154.91bn for election capital expenditure and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses.
Funding has remained a recurring issue in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
In June, the commission said it had yet to receive budgetary allocations specifically for the 2027 elections, although it maintained that preparations were progressing in accordance with the electoral timetable.
Despite the funding concerns, Amupitan said INEC had commenced several procurement and infrastructure projects ahead of the elections.
He disclosed that the commission was procuring 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices, additional voting cubicles and new operational vehicles.
The commission is also constructing dedicated BVAS storage facilities, renovating offices across the country and upgrading its information and communications technology infrastructure.
The presidential election is scheduled to hold in January 2027, with INEC continuing its preparations for the nationwide exercise.
