The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a total budget of ₦873,778,401,602.08 for the conduct of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The Commission’s Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while presenting INEC’s 2026 budget proposal alongside the detailed cost estimate for the 2027 elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.
Breakdown of the Proposed Election Budget
According to the Commission, the projected ₦873.7 billion election cost comprises:
Election Operational Costs: ₦375.75 billion
Election Administrative Costs: ₦92.31 billion
Election Technology Costs: ₦209.21 billion — covering electronic systems and supporting infrastructure
Election Capital Costs: ₦154.90 billion
These core components amount to ₦832.17 billion.
In addition, INEC allocated ₦41.61 billion for miscellaneous expenses, bringing the total estimate to ₦873.78 billion.
Separate from 2026 Budget
The Chairman clarified that the election budget is distinct from INEC’s proposed ₦171 billion allocation for the 2026 fiscal year, which is intended to fund routine activities such as by-elections and off-cycle governorship polls.
He noted that the submission aligns with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the Commission to present its general election budget at least one year before the scheduled polls.
Lawmakers to Scrutinise Proposal
During the session, members of the National Assembly raised concerns about funding modalities and the implementation of key provisions of the amended Electoral Act — particularly regarding electronic transmission of results.
Chairman of the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, Samuel Lalong, assured that the legislature would rigorously examine the proposal before approving funds necessary for seamless nationwide electoral coverage.
He emphasised that while INEC prepares and submits financial estimates, the constitutional authority to approve and appropriate funds lies solely with the National Assembly.
NYSC Members to Receive Enhanced Allowances
The committee also indicated it would review funding for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed for election duties.
Under the proposal:
Each corps member will receive ₦127,000 as allowance, ₦4,500 for feeding, ₦5,000 for five days of training, Approximately 450,000 corps members are expected to be deployed nationwide for the elections.
E-Transmission Controversy and Legislative Reversal
The budget presentation comes amid renewed debate over electronic transmission of election results following recent amendments to the Electoral Act.
On February 4, the Senate initially rejected a proposal to make real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results mandatory. The contentious Clause 60(3) sought to compel presiding officers to upload results directly to INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal immediately after completing Form EC8A — making electronic transmission a statutory obligation.
Instead, the Senate retained Section 60(5), which allows INEC to determine the mode of result transmission.
The decision sparked protests by civil society groups at the National Assembly, led by Peter Obi and later joined by Rotimi Amaechi.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives adopted the clause mandating real-time transmission.
Amid mounting public pressure, the Senate reconvened in an emergency plenary on February 10 and reversed its earlier stance. Lawmakers approved 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 Tahir Monguno and supported by Minority Leader Abba Moro, was passed by voice vote.
The Senate and House of Representatives are now expected to harmonise their versions of the amendment bill before final passage.
