INEC Says It Needs Enough Money to Prepare Properly for 2027 Elections

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, has called for proper funding for the commission ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

He warned that getting the security and logistics right for a smooth election depends heavily on getting steady financial support.

Amupitan spoke in Owerri, Imo State, at a conference for senior police officers focused on security planning for elections.

 

His media adviser, Adedayo Oketola, released a statement detailing the event.

The INEC chief explained that even though the commission's budget comes directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the massive size of its duties requires reliable funding to carry out its job.

 

He noted that tight budgets often force agencies to work within what is available rather than what is needed.

He pointed out that INEC handles voter registration, party registration, and elections at various government levels, making election security a shared national responsibility.

 

Furthermore, Amupitan warned that poor logistics can ruin an election even if the police manage to keep the peace.

Highlighting the work of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, Amupitan urged all involved agencies to improve coordination, intelligence gathering, and neutral policing ahead of 2027.

 

He reminded the public that achieving a reliable electoral system comes with costs that must be properly funded.

 

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, also spoke at the event, urging the police force to fully support INEC to ensure transparent elections.