"2027 Elections: Tinubu Sets Aside N1.01 Trillion for INEC"

Table of Contents

• Budget Allocation for INEC
• President's Budget Proposal
• Importance of Timely Funding
• Electoral Act 2022
• Previous Budget Approvals
• 2023 General Elections Expenditure

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been allocated ₦1.013 trillion in the 2026 budget presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in preparation for the 2027 elections.

According to the details in the 2026 Appropriation Bill released by the Budget Office of the Federation, the allocation amounts to exactly ₦1,013,778,401,602.

President Tinubu proposed a total budget of ₦58.18 trillion, labeled “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity.”

This proposal estimates total revenue at ₦34.33 trillion and total expenditure at ₦58.18 trillion, which includes ₦15.52 trillion set aside for debt servicing.

INEC has consistently emphasized the necessity for early and sufficient funding to guarantee the conduct of credible elections.

The Electoral Act 2022 underscores the importance of timely funding.

Section 3(3) of the Act stipulates that election funds must be allocated to INEC at least one year prior to the general election.

It states: “The funds designated for the Commission for any general elections are to be released to the Commission no later than one year before the next general election.”

In 2025, the National Assembly approved an increase in INEC’s budget from the initially proposed ₦40 billion to ₦140 billion.

For the 2023 general elections, the commission incurred expenses totaling ₦313.4 billion.

However, INEC reported in its 2023 General Election Report that despite ₦355 billion being approved for the elections, only ₦313.4 billion had been disbursed by September 2023.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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