•A ballot box
Major political parties have warned that the delay in the release of funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 general elections may undermine election preparations and the credibility of the polls.
The African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and Nigeria Democratic Congress said delayed funding could disrupt key procurement timelines, erode public confidence in the electoral process and ultimately threaten the smooth conduct of the 2027 elections, reports Sunday PUNCH.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission dismissed the concerns, stating that it remained financially on track and that preparations for the elections were progressing according to schedule.
This was as the ruling All Progressives Congress also backed the commission, expressing confidence that President Bola Tinubu would ensure the timely release of the resources needed to conduct free, fair and credible polls.
The concerns followed Thursday’s disclosure by the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Mohammed Haruna, who stated that the commission had yet to receive budgetary releases for the 2027 general elections.
Haruna, who spoke during a cross-sectoral interactive session organised by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Abuja, however added that the commission had already commenced preparations in line with the Electoral Act.
He explained that while the law provides that election funds should be released not later than six months before the general election, INEC had begun arrangements for the procurement of critical election materials, including new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines to replace devices that were damaged, lost or not recovered after previous elections.
Haruna also disclosed that the commission planned mock presidential election exercises to test its technology infrastructure and prevent a recurrence of the technical glitches that affected the INEC Result Viewing Portal during the 2023 presidential election.
INEC has proposed a budget of N873.78bn for the 2027 elections, covering election operations, technology deployment and capital expenditure, making it one of the largest electoral budgets in the country’s history.
Election experts say timely funding remains one of the most critical factors in election planning because many sensitive materials, technology platforms and specialised equipment are sourced internationally and require months of production, testing and delivery before deployment across Nigeria’s more than 176,000 polling units.
Over the years, INEC has maintained that early release of appropriated funds enables it to procure sensitive and non-sensitive materials, recruit and train ad hoc personnel, upgrade election technology, conduct voter education campaigns and fine-tune logistics well ahead of election day.
The issue has assumed greater significance following the logistical and technological challenges that trailed the 2023 general elections, particularly the delayed upload of presidential election results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal.
Delayed funding threatens 2027 polls – Opposition
Against this backdrop, opposition parties said any delay in funding the electoral commission could have far-reaching implications for the credibility and smooth conduct of the elections.
Speaking with our correspondent, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the delay as 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 requires long-term planning and early deployment of resources, warning that any delay in funding could affect the commission’s ability to meet key timelines.
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party warned that delayed funding could undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Publicity Secretary of the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, said elections operate on strict constitutional and administrative timelines that should not be compromised.
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.
“The National Assembly and the executive arm of government must urgently ensure that INEC is adequately funded and that all relevant agencies receive the necessary resources to effectively discharge their responsibilities ahead of the elections.”
Also, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, described the delay as worrisome but expressed confidence that the executive and the National Assembly would ensure the electoral body received the necessary funding before it became a major problem.
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. Besides, many are not done in Nigeria because of security features.
“However, I don’t think it can mar the conduct of the forthcoming election since the executive arm of government is responsible for funding INEC.
“I am sure they equally know the implication. I also want to believe that the National Assembly, as an institution, is monitoring the situation and will do the needful to ensure we don’t fall into a quagmire.
“I have a strong conviction that something will be done in time for INEC to make adequate preparations in terms of staff training, procurement of devices, materials and other logistics.”
Delayed funding not a threat to polls – APC
The APC rejected suggestions that INEC’s preparations were under threat.
The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, told our correspondent that the ruling party had absolute confidence in the leadership of the electoral commission and believed Tinubu would provide all necessary support for the successful conduct of 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 delay in the release of funding, we are not aware of such information. However, I am confident that President Tinubu will not shirk his constitutional responsibility to protect and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
“He has consistently demonstrated his commitment to democratic governance, and there is no reason to believe that INEC will be denied the funds it requires under this administration.”
Meseko added that election preparations were progressing according to plan.
He said, “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.
“The Commission recently conducted a free, fair and credible election in Ekiti State without raising concerns over logistics or funding. As we speak, INEC has more than enough election materials on the ground to conduct any election.
“Furthermore, the 2027 general election is still some time away. 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. Once those processes are concluded, the necessary resources will be released. Therefore, there is no cause for alarm, as preparations for the 2027 elections are progressing in line with established procedures.”
Delayed funding could joepardise 2027 elections – Yiaga Africa
Reacting to the development, a member of the Board of Trustees of Yiaga Africa, Professor Nnamdi Aduba, warned that any delay in releasing funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission could jeopardise the credibility of the 2027 elections.
Aduba, in an interview with our correspondent, said elections required extensive planning and timely funding to enable the electoral umpire to execute critical pre-election activities, including procurement, logistics and personnel mobilisation.
“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 mobilisation must be carried out. The biggest challenge INEC has consistently faced is logistics.”
According to him, late disbursement of funds creates room for undue influence and compromises the integrity of the electoral process.
The Don cautioned against any attempt to delay funding for the electoral commission, insisting that such actions do not serve the interest of 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.
“Anyone trying to delay INEC funding at this time does not mean well for the electoral process,” he said.
‘INEC financially on track, 2027 poll preparations ongoing’
Responding to the concerns, the leadership of INEC maintained that there was no cause for panic.
A top official of the commission, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said funding for general elections follows a phased release pattern rather than a one-off disbursement.
He said, “When it comes to funding an exercise as massive as the 2027 general elections, the process is always handled in structured, planned phases rather than all at once. 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.
“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 exchange comes as political parties, election observers and civil society organisations intensify calls for early preparations to avoid the logistical shortcomings that marred previous elections, and strengthen public confidence in the 2027 electoral process.
Although INEC insists it remains within the timeframe stipulated by the Electoral Act, analysts say the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the commission can sustain its procurement schedule, technology upgrades and other critical pre-election activities needed to deliver a credible nationwide poll.
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly campaigns will commence on September 9, 2026.
