The Independent National Electoral Commission has projected a total of ₦873.78bn for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and detailed cost estimate for the 2027 polls before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.
A breakdown of the proposal shows that election operational costs account for ₦375.75bn, while administrative expenses are pegged at ₦92.31bn. The commission also earmarked ₦209.21bn for election technology, covering electronic systems and related infrastructure, and ₦154.90bn for capital expenditure.
Together, these four components amount to ₦832.17bn.
INEC further proposed ₦41.61bn for miscellaneous expenses, bringing the grand total for the 2027 general elections to ₦873.78bn.
Amupitan clarified that the election budget is separate from the commission’s proposed ₦171bn allocation for the 2026 fiscal year, which is intended to fund routine operations, including by-elections and off-cycle polls.
He noted that the submission complies with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires INEC to present its general election budget at least one year before the polls.
During the session, lawmakers raised concerns about funding mechanisms and the implementation of key provisions of the amended Electoral Act, particularly the electronic transmission of results.
Chairman of the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Samuel Lalong, assured that the National Assembly would thoroughly scrutinise the proposal to ensure adequate funding for seamless nationwide coverage. He emphasised that while INEC submits its financial estimates, the constitutional power to approve and appropriate funds rests with the legislature.
The committee also signalled plans to review funding for National Youth Service Corps members to be deployed for election duties, following a request from the scheme for increased support.
Under the proposal, each corps member would receive ₦127,000, in addition to ₦4,500 for feeding and ₦5,000 for five days of training. About 450,000 corps members are expected to participate in the elections.
E-transmission debate
The budget presentation comes amid controversy over amendments to the Electoral Act 2022, particularly regarding real-time electronic transmission of results.
On February 4, the Senate passed an amendment bill that initially rejected a clause seeking to make electronic transmission of polling unit results to INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal mandatory. The proposal would have required presiding officers to upload results in real time after completing Form EC8A.
Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision allowing INEC to determine the mode of result transmission.
The move sparked protests by civil society groups at the National Assembly, led by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and later joined by former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives adopted the clause mandating real-time transmission.
Amid mounting pressure, the Senate reconvened on February 10 and reversed its earlier position, approving electronic transmission of results to the IReV portal, while allowing manual collation as a backup in the event of technological failure.
The amendment, sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno and supported by Minority Leader Abba Moro, was passed by voice vote.
Both chambers are expected to harmonise their versions of the amendment bill before forwarding it for presidential assent.
