The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has submitted a proposed budget of ₦873.78 billion to conduct Nigeria's 2027 general elections, marking a sharp increase from the ₦313.4 billion released for the 2023 polls.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan presented the figures on Thursday to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.
The proposal aligns with the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates that election budgets be prepared and appropriated at least one year in advance.
2027 Election Budget Breakdown (₦873.78 billion total):
Operational costs: ₦379.75 billion
Administrative costs: ₦92.32 billion
Technological costs: ₦209.21 billion
Election capital costs: ₦154.91 billion
Miscellaneous expenses: ₦42.61 billion
The substantial allocation for technology (over ₦209 billion) reflects INEC's emphasis on tech-driven processes to enhance transparency and efficiency, while operational expenses form the largest share to cover logistics, personnel, and nationwide deployment.
Separately, INEC requested ₦171 billion for its 2026 operations, which include routine activities, bye-elections, and off-season polls. The breakdown includes:
Personnel costs: ₦109 billion
Overheads: ₦18.7 billion
Election-related activities: ₦42.63 billion
Capital expenditure: ₦1.4 billion
However, the Ministry of Finance provided an envelope of only ₦140 billion for 2026, which INEC described as inadequate given the need for timely and flexible funding to support preparations and ongoing electoral activities.
Amupitan stressed that full and timely funding is essential to avoid operational challenges and ensure credible elections in 2027.
The proposals come as INEC ramps up early preparations amid rising costs driven by inflation, expanded voter registration, technological upgrades, and the complexities of Nigeria's electoral landscape.
The National Assembly will now review the proposals as part of the broader budgeting process for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years.
