Abuja, Nigeria – February 13, 2026 — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented a proposed budget of N873.778 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, a figure that brings the total cost close to N1 trillion when combined with routine operational funding.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan disclosed the amount yesterday during a presentation of the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the estimated cost of the 2027 elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters. He emphasised that the N873.778 billion is strictly for the 2027 general elections and is separate from the commission’s N171 billion request for the 2026 fiscal year, which covers routine operations, by-elections, off-cycle polls, and other ongoing activities.
Prof. Amupitan clarified that the election-specific budget does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for an upward review of allowances payable to corps members deployed as ad-hoc election staff. He noted that any adjustment to NYSC allowances would require separate appropriation and would further increase the overall cost if approved.
Breaking down the N873.778 billion election budget, the INEC chairman outlined five major components:
- Operational expenses — N379.748 billion
- Administrative costs — N92.317 billion
- Technology — N209.206 billion
- Capital expenditure — N154.905 billion
- Miscellaneous items — N42.608 billion
The substantial allocation for technology (N209.206 billion) reflects INEC’s continued emphasis on deepening the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), real-time result transmission via the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), electronic collation, and other digital infrastructure aimed at improving transparency and reducing human interference in the electoral process. Capital expenditure covers procurement of sensitive materials, vehicles, generators, and upgrades to registration and collation centres.
The commission’s 2026 budget proposal of N171 billion is intended to sustain ongoing activities, including continuous voter registration, the conduct of outstanding by-elections and off-cycle governorship polls, staff welfare, office maintenance, and preparatory work for the 2027 cycle.
The presentation comes amid heightened public and legislative scrutiny of electoral funding in Nigeria, where previous general elections have drawn criticism over perceived high costs, delays in disbursement, and questions about value for money. The 2023 general election reportedly cost the nation over N300 billion, a figure that has been cited by critics as evidence of inefficiency in the electoral process.
Prof. Amupitan defended the proposed figures, arguing that the scale and complexity of conducting a nationwide election for a 48-state federation with over 93 million registered voters require significant resources. He highlighted inflation, foreign exchange volatility, the cost of technology upgrades, logistics across difficult terrain, and security considerations as key drivers of the increased budget.
The INEC chairman also appealed to the National Assembly for timely approval and release of funds to avoid the cash-flow challenges that hampered preparations for previous elections. He reiterated the commission’s commitment to credible, transparent, and inclusive polls in 2027, stressing that adequate funding is essential to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Members of the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters are expected to engage INEC further during the ongoing budget defence sessions. Lawmakers have already signalled their intention to scrutinise the breakdown closely, particularly the technology and capital components, to ensure value for money and alignment with electoral reforms.
The proposed N873.778 billion election budget, if approved in full, would represent one of the largest single allocations for a national election in Nigeria’s history. It underscores the enormous financial demands of sustaining a democratic process in Africa’s most populous nation amid economic pressures, rising inflation, and competing national priorities.
As deliberations continue in the National Assembly, stakeholders—including civil society organisations, political parties, and the general public—will closely monitor how the proposed figures are defended, amended, or approved. The outcome will have far-reaching implications for the credibility, logistics, and integrity of the 2027 general elections.
