Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABUJA, NIGERIA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has included a substantial N1.013 trillion allocation for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 2026 federal budget, marking one of the largest single funding provisions for the electoral body in Nigeria’s history as the nation prepares for the 2027 general elections. The figure is part of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, titled the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” which Tinubu presented to the National Assembly.
The allocation, which significantly exceeds previous electoral budget figures, underscores the government’s emphasis on supporting INEC’s logistical, operational and administrative needs as it gears up for one of the most expansive election exercises in the country’s democratic evolution. According to budget analysts, funding at this level reflects early preparation to meet the expansive requirements of Nigeria’s electoral process, which involves more than 93 million registered voters, nearly 177 000 polling units, and over 1 500 constituencies nationwide.
Under Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022, election funds are to be released at least one year before the polls, and the robust allocation in the 2026 budget aims to comply with that statutory requirement. Analysts say that early funding is intended to enable adequate planning, procurement of necessary technologies, voter education campaigns, recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, and maintenance or expansion of polling infrastructure ahead of the general elections scheduled for 2027.
The proposed N1.01 trillion for INEC represents a major escalation from previous election budgets: for the 2015 general elections, the commission spent about N109 billion, rising to N189 billion in 2019, and N313 billion in 2023 — figures that reflect both the expanding scale of the electorate and the increasingly complex logistical demands of election administration. Experts have projected that conducting the 2027 elections could cost around N870 billion, illustrating why the government has opted for a front‑loaded and sizable budget.
The broader 2026 budget totals approximately N58.18 trillion, with revenues projected at N34.33 trillion and expenditures including significant outlays for security, infrastructure, education, health, and other key sectors. The large appropriation for INEC sits alongside other major allocations, reflecting the federal government’s efforts to balance electoral investment with wider national priorities.
Supporters of the sizable electoral commission funding argue that it is essential to ensuring credible, transparent and inclusive elections in Africa’s most populous nation, which regularly conducts one of the largest peacetime civil operations in the world during national polls. Timely and adequate funding, they say, reduces the risk of logistical bottlenecks, enhances the deployment of technology for voter identification and result transmission, and strengthens overall institutional capacity.
Critics, however, caution that such large expenditures must be matched with strong accountability and value‑for‑money outcomes, especially in a context of broader economic challenges. They point out that Nigeria continues to grapple with issues like inflation, poverty, and infrastructure deficits, and they stress that electoral financing should be transparent, well‑justified and closely monitored.
As the 2026 budget undergoes legislative scrutiny and eventual enactment, attention will remain focused on how the allocation for INEC is implemented and the degree to which it enhances Nigeria’s electoral preparedness ahead of the pivotal 2027 general elections.
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