The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a budget of N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, marking the formal commencement of preparations for the nationwide exercise.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, presented the proposal on Thursday before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters at the National Assembly.
He explained that preparations are already in motion, stressing that the law requires election funds to be approved at least 360 days before polling day to ensure adequate planning.
“Early appropriation is necessary to guarantee adequate planning and seamless execution of the elections,” he told lawmakers.
Budget Breakdown
A breakdown of the proposed budget shows that:
- N375.75 billion is allocated for election operations, covering activities directly related to voting.
- N92.31 billion is projected for administrative costs.
- N209.21 billion is earmarked for election technology, highlighting INEC’s continued reliance on tech-driven processes.
- N154.90 billion is proposed for capital projects.
These four components total N832.17 billion, with an additional N41.61 billion set aside for other related expenses, bringing the overall proposal to N873.78 billion.
Prof. Amupitan noted that the capital allocation for 2027 is higher than in previous election cycles because several capital items previously excluded have now been consolidated into the new budget proposal.
He added that comprehensive details of the planned expenditures, including specific activities and cost items, have been submitted to the National Assembly for consideration.
