KEY POINTS
- INEC says it has not yet received funds for the 2027 general elections.
- It proposed a N873.78bn budget and is procuring replacement BVAS devices.
- The commission plans mock presidential polls and flags vote-buying as a worry.
The Independent National Electoral Commission says it has yet to receive budgetary allocations for the conduct of the 2027 general elections. The INEC National Commissioner for Voter Education and Publicity, Malam Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at an interactive session organized by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa with Legis360.
Planning despite INEC 2027 election funds delayed
According to Haruna, the commission still awaits the release of the funds, yet preparations for successful 2027 elections continue. He noted that INEC proposed a total budget of N873.78 billion, with large allocations for operations, technology and capital expenditure. Moreover, he said the delay remains within the law, because the Electoral Act 2026 requires the release of election funds “not later than six months before the next general election.”
Furthermore, Haruna said the commission is already arranging to procure new materials, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices to replace those damaged or unrecovered in previous polls. “Our director of ICT just returned from China regarding procurement,” he said, stressing that orders take time. In addition, he said INEC plans mock presidential exercises to test its technology and avoid a repeat of the IReV glitches that marred the 2023 election.
Cost, courts and credibility
Responding to concerns over election costs, Haruna urged citizens to weigh the per-voter figure rather than the headline sum, putting it at about six dollars, which he called reasonable for Nigeria. He explained that imported devices and exchange-rate swings drive much of the cost.
On the judiciary, Haruna said conflicting court orders remain a major challenge. He cited last-minute injunctions before the Ekiti governorship election that forced the commission to reconfigure software and update materials instantly. Therefore, he said INEC is engaging judicial authorities to address the trend.
Reviewing Ekiti, Haruna described the field logistics and technology as highly successful, with BVAS recording a 98 percent accreditation rate, though he lamented persistent vote-buying. He also disclosed that the commission suspended an officer who leaked sensitive data and reported the case to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. Ultimately, the PAACA Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, urged the government to release funds early, warning that emergency planning invites corruption and leaves INEC scrambling against tight procurement timelines.
