Delay in Funding Sparks Concerns for 2027 Elections

Major political parties have raised alarms about the delay in releasing funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections. They warn this delay could hurt preparations and the credibility of the elections. The African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, and Nigeria Democratic Congress say this funding issue could disrupt important timelines, shake public trust in the electoral process, and endanger the smooth running of the 2027 elections.

Nonetheless, INEC has brushed off these worries. The commission says it is financially on track and that preparations for the elections are moving forward as planned. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) also supports INEC, expressing confidence that President Bola Tinubu will ensure timely funding for the elections.

The fears arose after INEC National Commissioner for Voter Education and Publicity, Mohammed Haruna, revealed on Thursday that the commission had not yet received its budget for the 2027 elections. Haruna spoke during an interactive session in Abuja organized by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre. He added that the commission has already started working in line with the Electoral Act.

He explained that the law states election funds should be released no later than six months before the election. Despite this, INEC has begun arranging the procurement of critical election materials. This includes new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines to replace those lost or damaged in past elections. Haruna also mentioned that the commission plans to conduct mock presidential election exercises to test its technology and avoid the issues that troubled the INEC Result Viewing Portal during the 2023 presidential election.

INEC has budgeted N873.78 billion for the 2027 elections. This budget covers election operations, technology deployment, and capital expenditure, making it one of the largest in Nigeria's history. Election experts say timely funding is crucial for planning elections. Many sensitive materials and technology need to be sourced from abroad and require months to produce, test, and deliver before they can be used in Nigeria’s over 176,000 polling units.

Over the years, INEC has emphasized that early funding allows it to buy necessary materials, hire and train temporary staff, upgrade technology, run voter education campaigns, and sort logistics well before election day. This issue has become more serious after the logistical and technological problems that followed the 2023 general elections, especially the late upload of presidential election results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal.

Delayed funding threatens 2027 polls, Opposition
Against this backdrop, opposition parties argue that any delay in funding for the electoral commission could have damaging effects on the elections' credibility and smooth execution. Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, called the delay disturbing. He said, “It has very serious implications because INEC has to carry out a lot of procurement, many of which are imports. If those procurements have not been made by now, it may pose serious threats to the election in the months ahead.”

He stressed that election management needs long-term planning and early resource deployment. He warned that any delay in funding could jeopardize INEC’s ability to meet key deadlines. The Peoples Democratic Party also cautioned that delayed funding might harm the electoral process's integrity. Ini Ememobong, Publicity Secretary of the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, said elections follow strict timelines that should not be ignored.

He stated, “The failure to adequately fund the Independent National Electoral Commission at this stage may be part of a broader strategy not only to undermine the electoral process but to derail it entirely. Elections are time-bound, and many critical activities must be carried out according to strict timelines. Most of the required materials and logistics cannot simply be procured off the shelf at the last minute. The continued delay in releasing funds therefore reflects a grave level of irresponsibility and a lack of commitment to democracy.”

He urged the National Assembly and the executive arm of government to ensure INEC gets the funds it needs. Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, also described the delay as worrying but expressed hope that the executive and the National Assembly would ensure INEC gets the required funding before it becomes a major issue. He said, “Of course, this delay is a source of concern because the companies providing those services and materials will require time to produce them.”

Delayed funding not a threat to polls, APC
The APC has rejected the idea that INEC’s preparations are in danger. Duro Meseko, the party's Deputy National Publicity Secretary, told Sunday PUNCH that the ruling party trusts INEC's leadership and believes Tinubu will offer all necessary support for the elections. He stated, “The APC has implicit confidence in the current leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission, ably led by Prof Joash Amupitan and the Commission’s management.”

As for the alleged funding delay, Meseko said they were not aware of such information. He expressed confidence that President Tinubu would fulfill his duty to support Nigeria’s democracy. He added that election preparations are going according to plan. “It is important to note that the country is currently undergoing an economic reorientation, with the president prioritising prudent spending and eliminating wasteful expenditures. Despite this, INEC remains a top priority.”

He mentioned that INEC has enough materials for any upcoming election. He said, “Anyone monitoring the INEC procurement portal will have noticed that the commission has, in recent months, advertised several contracts for the supply of election materials and related services. These advertisements show that procurement processes are already underway.”

Delayed funding could jeopardise 2027 elections, Yiaga Africa
Reacting to the situation, Professor Nnamdi Aduba, a member of Yiaga Africa's Board of Trustees, warned that any delay in funding for INEC could harm the credibility of the 2027 elections. Aduba told Sunday PUNCH that elections need thorough planning and timely funds for essential pre-election tasks like procurement, logistics, and personnel mobilization.

He said, “Elections are very expensive. A lot of things must be in place. INEC’s planned processes have to be fully implemented. Printing must be done, logistics must be handled, and the necessary mobilization must be carried out.” According to him, late fund disbursement can create room for outside influence and harm the electoral process's integrity.

He cautioned against any attempts to delay funding for the electoral commission, saying such actions do not help Nigeria's democracy. “When you don’t mobilise funding early and people who should have got funding early did not, and politicians have the opportunity of giving it to them, what will happen? You are exposing the process to unimaginable dangers.”

‘INEC financially on track, 2027 poll preparations ongoing’
In response to the concerns, INEC's leadership assured that everything is okay. A senior official from the commission, who requested anonymity, said funding for the general elections follows a phased release pattern instead of a one-time payment. He said, “We have a solid, ongoing relationship with the Federal Government regarding our budget, and I can tell you that the government has been completely supportive and committed to making sure our timelines are met.”

The official added, “As a rule, we don’t discuss the details of our financial transactions or release schedule in the media. What is most important for the public to know is that INEC is financially on track. Our preparations, from upgrading election technology to procuring materials, are fully moving forward on schedule without any hitches.”

The discussion comes as political parties, election observers, and civil society groups push for early preparations to avoid the problems seen in past elections. They want to build public trust in the 2027 electoral process. While INEC insists it is within the time allowed by the Electoral Act, analysts believe the coming months will be crucial for the commission in maintaining its schedule for procurement, technology upgrades, and other important pre-election tasks.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are set for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027. Campaigning for the presidential and National Assembly elections will start on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will kick off on September 9, 2026.