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INEC proposes ₦873.78bn budget for 2027 polls
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Largest allocation goes to election operations (₦375.75bn) Technology costs projected at ₦209.21bn
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a total budget of ₦873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, presented the proposal on Thursday before the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Electoral Matters at the National Assembly.
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He said preparations for the 2027 elections had already commenced, noting that the law requires election funding to be appropriated at least 360 days before the date fixed for the polls to ensure adequate planning and smooth execution.
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The budget defence session was chaired by Senator Simon Bako Lalong and his House counterpart, Hon. Adebayo Balogun.
Budget Breakdown
According to Amupitan, the proposal is divided into four major components:
Election Operations: ₦375.75bn
Election Administrative Costs: ₦92.31bn
Election Technology Costs: ₦209.21bn
Election Capital Costs: ₦154.90bn
These components total ₦832.17bn.
An additional ₦41.61bn has been earmarked for miscellaneous expenses, bringing the grand total to ₦873.78bn.
Increased Capital Allocation
The INEC chairman explained that the capital component is significantly higher than in previous election budgets because several capital items not adequately captured in earlier appropriations have now been consolidated into the 2027 proposal.
He also provided specific budget codes for each category:
Election operations: Codes 230101–230601
Administrative costs: Codes 230703–230812
Technology costs: Codes 230707–230811
Capital costs: Codes 230198–320201
Miscellaneous expenses: Code 230725
Amupitan noted that detailed breakdowns of the proposed expenditures are contained in the submitted document.
The proposal now awaits legislative consideration and approval as part of the broader preparations for the 2027 electoral cycle.