INEC’s N874bn Election Bombshell: Nearly N1 Trillion Tab for 2027 Polls Sparks Funding Clash

By Linda Ike

Nigeria’s electoral body has dropped a fiscal bombshell, a proposed N873.778 billion budget for the 2027 general elections, teetering on the edge of N1 trillion.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman , Prof. Joash Amupitan unveiled the figure during a presentation to the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.

He stressed it’s entirely separate from INEC’s N171 billion 2026 budget proposal, which covers operations, by-elections, and off-cycle polls exceeding the Finance Ministry’s N140 billion “envelope” by N31 billion.

Budget Breakdown and Extras, Amupitan detailed the 2027 projection across five pillars, prepared per Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022: Operational costs: N379.748 billion, Administrative costs: N92.317 billion, Technological costs: N209.206 billion, Election capital costs: N154.905 billion, Miscellaneous: N42.608 billion.

Notably, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)’s N32 billion plea to hike ad-hoc staff allowances from current levels to N125,000 per corps member. The committee pledged to review it.

For 2026, INEC seeks N109 billion for personnel, N18.7 billion overheads, N42.63 billion election activities, and N1.4 billion capital arguing the rigid envelope system stifles urgent needs like a dedicated comms network to curb tech failures and boost accountability.

Lawmakers Push Back on Funding Woes.as
Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole blasted external budget control, “INEC’s mandate is too sensitive for envelopes, Parliament must fund its real needs to end underfunding cries.”

Hon. Billy Osawaru (Edo) echoed calls for constitutional first-line charge status, ensuring full, timely releases for seamless planning.

The committee greenlit a motion for one-time annual budget drops and committed to backing INEC for credible 2027 polls.

INEC Committee Chairman, Senator Simon Lalong vowed close collaboration, while House counterpart Hon. Bayo Balogun pledged support with a sharp warning.

Balogun recalled 2023’s IREV portal fiasco, noting that “INEC hyped real-time results, but it wasn’t even in the Electoral Act just regulations. Be careful with promises.”

As Nigeria eyes another high-stakes vote, the budget battle underscores perennial tensions over electoral funding and credibility.