The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been allocated N1.013 trillion in the 2026 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
Details from the 2026 budget proposal released by the Budget Office of the Federation show that INEC is to receive N1,013,778,401,602. The allocation forms part of the Federal Government’s proposed N58.18 trillion budget, tagged “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity.”
The budget proposal projects total revenue of N34.33 trillion against total expenditure of N58.18 trillion, with N15.52 trillion set aside for debt servicing.
INEC has consistently underscored the importance of early and adequate funding to ensure the successful conduct of free, fair and credible elections. This position is backed by the Electoral Act 2022, which provides for timely release of election funds.
Specifically, Section 3(3) of the Act stipulates that funds due to the Commission for any general election must be released at least one year before the election. The provision states that election funds “are to be released to the Commission not later than one year before the next general election.”
In 2025, the National Assembly approved an upward review of INEC’s budget, raising it from an initial N40 billion to N140 billion. For the 2023 general elections, the Commission spent N313.4 billion.
However, INEC disclosed in its 2023 General Election Report that although N355 billion was approved for the conduct of the elections, only N313.4 billion had been released as of September 2023, highlighting ongoing concerns over full and timely disbursement of approved funds.
