%20to%20Conduct%202027%20General%20Election,%20Says%20Ex-Adviser.jpg "INEC May Spend About N870 Billion ($600 Million) to Conduct 2027 General Election, Says Ex-Adviser")
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is projected to spend approximately N870 billion (about $600 million) to conduct the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. This estimate was presented by Professor Bolade Eyinla, immediate past Chief Technical Adviser to the former INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
Speaking during a policy dialogue on electoral financing, Eyinla highlighted the escalating costs associated with administering elections in Nigeria due to factors like logistics, deployment of personnel, procurement of sensitive materials, and the increased scale of electoral operations.
He stressed that the figure underscores the need for sustainable and adequate funding mechanisms to ensure the commission carries out its constitutional mandate effectively and transparently. Amid rising operational expenses, INEC has repeatedly advocated for increased budgetary allocations, pointing to past shortfalls that impacted election preparations and activities.
Prof. Eyinla emphasized that without proper funding, the integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s elections risk being compromised. The discussion also touched on INEC’s plans to modernize electoral processes, including continuous voter registration and enhanced technological integration, which further contribute to budgetary demands.
The report calls on the federal government, National Assembly, and other stakeholders to collaborate with INEC in ensuring sufficient financial resources are available to guarantee free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.