2027 Elections: INEC Seeks Bigger Budget, Says Governorship Polls Are Costly

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has appealed for increased and sustained funding for the electoral body, saying the cost of conducting governorship elections exceeds the combined expenses of presidential and National Assembly polls.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Amupitan made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Shehu, in Abuja.

According to INEC’s daily bulletin, the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two federal agencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The INEC chairman noted that the commission’s constitutional responsibilities extend beyond the conduct of general elections.

He explained that INEC is responsible for organising elections for the offices of the President, Vice President, members of the National Assembly, state governors, state Houses of Assembly and the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He added that the commission also oversees continuous voter registration and supervises the registration of political parties.

Amupitan stressed that INEC bears the financial responsibility for handling pre-election and post-election activities, including legal disputes and petitions arising from party primaries and election outcomes.

According to him, the breadth of the commission’s responsibilities makes adequate and predictable funding essential for effective planning and the successful conduct of elections.

He disclosed that INEC operates offices in all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the country’s 774 local government areas, with the Federal Government currently funding their operations.

Governorship Elections Cost More

Amupitan said governorship elections are particularly expensive to organise, noting that they cost more than the combined expenditure on presidential and National Assembly elections.

He urged the RMAFC to support efforts to ensure the commission receives sufficient and consistent funding ahead of the 2027 polls.

According to him, improved funding would enhance logistics, facilitate the timely deployment of election materials and strengthen the commission’s overall operational capacity.

The INEC chairman also raised concerns about staff welfare, warning that poor remuneration has contributed to the loss of experienced personnel through migration.

He said the trend could create a significant skills gap, especially as many senior employees approach retirement.

Amupitan argued that improved salaries and welfare packages would help retain skilled workers, boost staff morale and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

He also called for increased investment in infrastructure, personnel training and electoral technology to improve the commission’s capacity to deliver credible elections.

INEC Reaffirms Commitment to Credible Elections

Amupitan assured the RMAFC that INEC remains committed to conducting free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

He disclosed that the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.

He also announced that the commission will conduct the off-cycle governorship election in Osun State on August 15, 2026.

The INEC chairman added that the commission’s recent governorship election in Ekiti State and several bye-elections conducted across the country received positive assessments from both domestic and international observers.

RMAFC Assures INEC of Support

Responding, RMAFC Chairman Dr. Mohammed Shehu commended INEC for its role in conducting elections since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

He pledged the commission’s support for INEC’s efforts to deliver credible elections in 2027.

Shehu acknowledged the scale of INEC’s responsibilities across the federal, state and local government levels, describing the commission’s nationwide operations as both extensive and demanding.

He assured Amupitan and his delegation of RMAFC’s continued willingness to collaborate with INEC in fulfilling its constitutional mandate.

The INEC chairman was accompanied on the visit by national commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, technical advisers and directors, while Shehu received the delegation alongside the RMAFC vice chairman, commissioners and senior officials.