The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it is yet to receive the budgetary allocation required for the conduct of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, despite ongoing preparations for the nationwide polls.
The commission, however, assured Nigerians that critical planning activities, including the procurement of election technology and logistics arrangements, are already underway.
INEC Awaiting Release of Election Funds
INEC National Commissioner for Voter Education and Publicity, Mohammed Haruna, made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja on Thursday.
The interactive session, organized by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) in partnership with Legis360, brought together political parties, civil society organizations, and election officials to review the recently concluded Ekiti governorship election and discuss preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Haruna explained that although the commission has not yet received the funds, the situation remains within the timeline stipulated by the Electoral Act 2026.
According to him, the law requires election funds to be released to INEC no later than six months before a general election.
INEC Proposes N873.78 Billion Budget for 2027 Polls
The electoral commission has proposed a budget of N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
The proposed expenditure covers key areas including election operations, technology deployment, logistics, voter accreditation systems, and capital projects required for the successful conduct of the elections.
Haruna noted that preparations cannot wait until funds are released, especially given the lengthy procurement timelines involved in acquiring election equipment.
BVAS Procurement Already Underway
INEC revealed that steps have already been taken to replace damaged, lost, and unrecovered Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices used during previous elections.
According to Haruna, the commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology recently returned from China after discussions relating to the procurement of election technology.
He explained that several BVAS machines used during previous elections were either damaged, lost, or not recovered, making replacement necessary ahead of 2027.
Mock Presidential Election Planned
As part of efforts to strengthen its technological systems, INEC plans to conduct mock presidential election exercises before the 2027 polls.
The simulations are intended to test the commission’s election technology infrastructure and prevent a repeat of the technical challenges experienced during the operation of the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal in the 2023 presidential election.
Haruna said the commission is committed to improving system reliability and voter confidence through extensive testing and evaluation.
INEC Defends Election Cost
Responding to concerns over the proposed election budget, Haruna argued that the cost of conducting elections in Nigeria remains reasonable when compared to international standards.
According to him, the average cost per voter is approximately six dollars despite the overall budget appearing substantial.
He attributed rising election costs largely to the importation of critical election materials and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
“Most of the technology and equipment used during elections are imported, and exchange rate movements significantly impact procurement costs,” he said.
Conflicting Court Orders Remain Major Challenge
The INEC commissioner identified conflicting court judgments and last-minute legal orders as one of the commission’s biggest operational challenges.
He cited instances during the Ekiti governorship election where court orders received less than 48 hours before voting compelled INEC to reconfigure software systems and redesign election materials.
Haruna said such situations leave little time for adequate testing and can complicate election administration.
He added that the commission is engaging judicial stakeholders to reduce the frequency of conflicting court orders during election periods.
INEC Responds to Data Breach Concerns
Addressing recent concerns over an alleged data breach, Haruna assured Nigerians that the commission maintains strict data protection measures.
He disclosed that an electoral officer accused of leaking sensitive information for personal reasons had been suspended.
The matter has reportedly been referred to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), while investigations by security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), are ongoing.
Vote Buying Still a Major Concern
While reviewing the Ekiti governorship election, Haruna praised the performance of INEC’s logistics and technology systems, revealing that BVAS recorded a 98 percent voter accreditation success rate.
However, he expressed concern over the persistence of vote buying, describing it as a growing threat to Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to him, election observers witnessed voters openly waiting to receive financial inducements before casting their ballots.
Stakeholders Call for Early Funding
Speaking at the event, PAACA Executive Director Ezenwa Nwagwu urged the federal government to release election funds early to enable proper planning.
He warned that delayed funding often creates emergency situations that can encourage corruption and undermine electoral credibility.
Nwagwu also emphasized the need for timely procurement of election equipment and called on citizens to hold political actors accountable for systemic bottlenecks affecting election administration.