Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has appealed for increased and sustained funding to enable the commission effectively prepare for the 2027 general elections, citing the rising cost of conducting elections across the country.
Amupitan made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Shehu, in Abuja, describing the engagement as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the two federal institutions.
The INEC chairman noted that conducting governorship elections alone now costs more than holding the presidential and National Assembly elections combined, underscoring the growing financial demands of the electoral process.
He explained that the commission’s constitutional responsibilities extend beyond conducting elections to include continuous voter registration, political party registration, and managing pre-election and post-election activities, including litigation arising from party primaries.
“The cost of conducting governorship elections alone now exceeds the combined cost of the presidential and National Assembly elections. We therefore require increased and consistent funding to effectively discharge our constitutional responsibilities ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
Amupitan also highlighted the operational burden of maintaining INEC’s nationwide presence, noting that the commission operates offices in all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and the 774 local government areas, with the Federal Government currently funding these operations.
He stressed that adequate and predictable funding is essential to sustaining the commission’s operations and ensuring the successful conduct of credible, free and fair elections across the country.
