By Chimdiogo Amuh 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it requires ₦873.78 billion to conduct Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, marking a sharp increase from the ₦313.4 billion released for the 2023 polls.

The proposal was presented on Thursday by the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, while defending the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the projected cost of the 2027 elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, INEC is also seeking ₦171 billion for its operations in the 2026 fiscal year to support routine activities, including by-elections and off-season polls. He explained that the ₦873.78 billion election budget covers the full conduct of the 2027 general elections but does not include a fresh request by the National Youth Service Corps for increased allowances for corps members serving as ad hoc election staff.

A breakdown of the proposed election budget shows that ₦379.75 billion is allocated for operational costs, ₦92.32 billion for administrative expenses, ₦209.21 billion for technological requirements, ₦154.91 billion for election capital expenditure, and ₦42.61 billion for miscellaneous items.

Amupitan noted that the budget was prepared in compliance with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the commission to submit its election budget at least one year before a general election.

On the 2026 budget, he revealed that while the Ministry of Finance issued a budget envelope of ₦140 billion, INEC is proposing a total expenditure of ₦171 billion. This includes ₦109 billion for personnel costs, ₦18.7 billion for overheads, ₦42.63 billion for election-related activities, and ₦1.4 billion for capital projects.

The INEC chairman also criticised the envelope budgeting system, describing it as unsuitable for the commission’s operations, which often require urgent and flexible funding. He added that the absence of a dedicated communications network remains a major operational challenge and stressed that developing such infrastructure would enhance accountability, especially during technical disruptions.

Reacting, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) urged lawmakers to discard the envelope budgeting model for INEC, given the sensitive nature of its mandate. Similarly, House of Representatives member Billy Osawaru called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge, as provided by the Constitution, to ensure timely and full release of funds ahead of the 2027 elections.

The joint committee subsequently approved a motion recommending a one-time release of the commission’s annual budget and said it would also consider the NYSC’s request for about ₦32 billion to increase allowances for corps members engaged in election duties.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Simon Lalong, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the commission to guarantee adequate support for the 2027 elections. The Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, pledged legislative backing but cautioned INEC against making commitments it may not be able to fulfil, recalling challenges experienced during the 2023 elections over result uploads to the INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV).