The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for the prompt release of outstanding funds under its 2026 budget, warning that timely financing is critical to the smooth execution of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, made the appeal on Tuesday while addressing a World Press Conference as part of the commission’s preparations for the elections.
Amupitan said organising a national election of the scale of the 2027 polls required “robust financial backing and fiscal discipline”, while noting that the Federal Government had continued to release statutory budgetary allocations to the commission.
He, however, said INEC was awaiting the release of the remaining funds to enable it to execute its activities without disruption.
“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.
“These funds have enabled us to meet international vendor obligations, finance the production of critical election technology, upgrade fiscal infrastructure, and sustain multi-stakeholder operational deployments nationwide.
“However, we expect the prompt release of the remaining budgets to ensure seamless execution of the activities,” the chairman added.
The appeal comes amid INEC’s 2026 funding requirements and its projected expenditure for the 2027 general elections, with the presidential election scheduled for January.
While defending the commission’s 2026 budget before the National Assembly in February, Amupitan said the Federal Ministry of Finance had provided a budget envelope of ₦140 billion, while INEC’s total proposed expenditure for the year stood at ₦171 billion.
The proposed 2026 budget comprised ₦109 billion for personnel costs, ₦18.7 billion for overheads, ₦42.63 billion for election-related activities and ₦1.4 billion for capital expenditure.
INEC also told the National Assembly that it would require ₦873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections.
The projected election budget included ₦379.75 billion for operational costs, ₦92.32 billion for administrative expenses, ₦209.21 billion for technology, ₦154.91 billion for election capital expenditure and ₦42.61 billion 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 continuing in line with the electoral timetable.
Amupitan said INEC had commenced procurement and other preparations, including the purchase of 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, additional voting cubicles and operational vehicles.
He added that the commission was constructing dedicated BVAS storage facilities, renovating offices nationwide and upgrading its information and communications technology infrastructure.
