Reps Warn INEC Against Unkept Promises Ahead Of 2027 Elections

The Chairman House Committee on Electional Matters, Bayo Balogun has cautioned the Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC, against making commitments it may not be able to fulfill, as it presented its budget proposals ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Balogun, warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be careful in giving assurances, recalling controversies surrounding the electronic transmission of results during the last general election.

He noted that while INEC had created expectations about real-time uploading of results to its Result Viewing (IREV) portal, the platform was not expressly provided for in the Electoral Act but only in the commission’s regulations.

Despite the caution, lawmakers pledged legislative backing for the commission.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Simon Lalong, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the commission to ensure adequate support for the 2027 polls.

The Joint Committee on Electoral Matters approved a motion recommending a one-time release of INEC’s annual budget and said it would consider a separate request of about 32 billion naira from the National Youth Service Corps to raise allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc election staff to 125,000 naira.

Some lawmakers also called for greater financial autonomy for the commission. Sen. Adams Oshiomhole said external agencies should not dictate INEC’s budgeting framework, given its constitutional mandate.

Billy Osawaru urged that the commission’s budget be placed on first-line charge to guarantee full and timely release of funds.

In his presentation, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan told lawmakers that the commission is proposing 873.8 billion naira for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

The amount, he said, is separate from its 2026 budget proposal of 171 billion naira for routine operations, including by-elections and off-cycle polls.

He said the election estimate was prepared in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the commission to submit its budget at least one year before a general election.

According to Amupitan, the projected 2027 cost is structured across five components: 379.7 billion naira for operational expenses, 209.2 billion naira for technology, 154.9 billion naira for capital costs, 92.3 billion naira for administrative expenses and 42.6 billion naira for miscellaneous spending.

‘The estimate does not include a fresh proposal by the NYSC seeking increased allowances.

“For the 2026 fiscal year, the Ministry of Finance provided a budget envelope of 140 billion naira, but the commission is proposing total spending of 171 billion naira. The breakdown includes 109 billion naira for personnel, 18.7 billion naira for overheads, 42.6 billion naira for election-related activities and 1.4 billion naira for capital expenditure.

He criticized the envelope budgeting system, arguing that it does not suit the commission’s operations, which often require urgent and flexible funding.

He also identified the absence of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, saying that developing one would enhance accountability in the event of technical failures.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji