The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a total budget of N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, with substantial allocations to election operations, technology and capital expenditure.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a staggering N873.78 billion budget to conduct the 2027 general elections, signaling the official start 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 stressed that preparations are already underway, noting that the law mandates election funds be approved at least 360 days before polling. According to him, early approval is crucial to ensure proper planning and a smooth electoral process across the country.
“Early appropriation is necessary to guarantee adequate planning and seamless execution of the elections,” he told lawmakers. A breakdown of the proposed budget shows that election operations will take the largest share, with N375.75 billion allocated for activities directly related to voting.
Administrative costs are projected at N92.31 billion, while N209.21 billion is earmarked for election technology, underscoring the commission’s continued reliance on tech-driven processes. INEC also proposed N154.90 billion for capital projects, bringing the subtotal of the four main components to N832.17 billion.
An additional N41.61 billion has been set aside for other related expenses, pushing the total to N873.78 billion. Prof. Amupitan noted that the capital allocation for 2027 is higher than in previous election cycles, explaining that several capital items previously excluded have now been consolidated into the new proposal.
He added that full details of the proposed spending, including specific activities and cost items, have been submitted to the National Assembly for consideration.
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