Nigeria’s next general election may be one year away, but the battle over its price tag has already begun.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has projected a staggering ₦873.778 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections — a figure that immediately triggered pointed questions and heightened scrutiny at the National Assembly.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, presented the projection while defending the Commission’s ₦171 billion 2026 budget proposal before the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters. He was emphatic: the ₦873.78 billion earmarked for 2027 is separate from the 2026 allocation, which is meant to fund routine activities such as off-cycle governorship elections, by-elections, voter registration updates, logistics, and administrative operations.
But lawmakers made it clear that separating the figures does not soften the impact of the headline number.
Nearly ₦1 Trillion — and Counting?
Amupitan further disclosed that the ₦873.78 billion projection does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which is seeking an upward review of allowances for corps members deployed as ad-hoc election staff.
That revelation raises a critical possibility: the final cost of the 2027 elections could climb even higher.
With inflationary pressures, rising logistics costs, security challenges, and technological upgrades expected ahead of the polls, legislators signaled that Nigerians deserve clarity on every naira proposed.
Lawmakers Draw the Line
Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Simon Lalong, assured the Commission of legislative cooperation but stressed that support would not translate into a blank cheque.
He indicated that the National Assembly would rigorously examine the assumptions behind the projection, demanding detailed breakdowns and measurable benchmarks to justify the enormous public expenditure.
Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, pledged backing for credible elections but delivered a pointed warning: INEC must avoid overpromising and underdelivering.
Balogun cautioned that operational failures, procurement irregularities, or unrealistic commitments would not be excused under the weight of a near-trillion-naira budget.
Transparency or Trouble
Members of the joint committee reiterated that the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend not only on logistics and technology but also on fiscal discipline. With public trust in institutions often tested during election cycles, lawmakers emphasized that transparent budgeting, early planning, and strict oversight are non-negotiable.
The message from the National Assembly was unmistakable: INEC will get the support it needs, but every kobo must be accounted for.
As preparations for 2027 quietly gather pace, one thing is clear: the politics of funding the election may prove just as intense as the election itself.
