Major political parties have expressed concern over the delay in releasing funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections, warning that it could disrupt preparations and affect the credibility of the polls.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) said late funding could interfere with critical procurement timelines, weaken public confidence in the electoral process, and threaten the smooth conduct of the 2027 elections.
However, INEC dismissed the concerns, insisting that its financial plans remain on course and that preparations for the elections are progressing as scheduled.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) also defended the commission, expressing confidence that President Bola Tinubu would ensure the timely release of funds required to conduct free, fair, and credible elections.
The concerns followed comments made on Thursday by INEC National Commissioner for Voter Education and Publicity, Mohammed Haruna, who disclosed that the commission had yet to receive budgetary releases for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a cross-sectoral interactive session organised by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Abuja, Haruna explained that although the Electoral Act requires election funds to be released at least six months before the polls, INEC had already commenced preparations.
He said the commission had begun arrangements for the procurement of essential election materials, including new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to replace devices that were damaged, lost, or not returned after previous elections.
Haruna also revealed that INEC plans to conduct mock presidential election exercises to test its technology infrastructure and prevent a repeat of the technical challenges experienced with the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) during the 2023 presidential election.
The electoral commission has proposed a budget of ₦873.78 billion for the 2027 general elections. The proposed funding will cover election operations, technology deployment, and capital expenditure, making it one of the largest election budgets in Nigeria's history.
Election experts have consistently maintained that timely funding is essential because many sensitive election materials, technology platforms, and specialised equipment are sourced from overseas and require months for production, testing, and nationwide distribution across more than 176,000 polling units.
Over the years, INEC has maintained that early release of funds enables the commission to procure election materials, recruit and train ad hoc staff, upgrade election technology, conduct voter education campaigns, and improve logistics before election day.
The issue has become even more significant following the logistical and technological challenges that affected the 2023 general elections, particularly the delayed upload of presidential election results to the IReV portal.
Opposition Warns of Risks
Reacting to the development, opposition parties warned that any delay in funding INEC could seriously undermine the credibility and smooth conduct of the elections.
Speaking with DIP CONNECT ONLINE NEWS, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, described the delay as a serious concern.
He noted that many election materials are imported and warned that delayed procurement could create significant challenges ahead of the elections.
Similarly, the Publicity Secretary of the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, argued that elections operate under strict constitutional and administrative timelines that must not be compromised.
He said failure to adequately fund INEC at this stage could be interpreted as an attempt to weaken or derail the electoral process, stressing that many election materials and logistics cannot be procured at the last minute. He therefore called on both the National Assembly and the executive to urgently provide the necessary funding for INEC and other agencies involved in the election.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, also described the delay as worrisome but expressed confidence that both the executive and the National Assembly would ensure INEC receives the required funds before the situation becomes critical.
According to him, although many election materials require time to manufacture due to their security features, he believes the government understands the implications of delayed funding and will act promptly to enable INEC complete staff training, procurement, and other logistical preparations.
APC Dismisses Concerns
The All Progressives Congress (APC) rejected claims that INEC's preparations were under threat.
Speaking with DIP CONNECT ONLINE NEWS, the party's Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, said the APC has full confidence in the leadership of INEC under Prof. Joash Amupitan and believes President Bola Tinubu will fulfil his constitutional responsibility by providing the commission with all necessary financial support.
Meseko stated that the Federal Government remains committed to strengthening Nigeria's democracy despite ongoing economic reforms aimed at promoting prudent spending.
He also pointed to the successful conduct of the recent Ekiti State election and noted that INEC has already advertised several procurement contracts for election materials and services, indicating that preparations are progressing in accordance with established procedures.
Yiaga Africa Raises Alarm
A member of the Board of Trustees of Yiaga Africa, Professor Nnamdi Aduba, also warned that delayed funding could jeopardise the credibility of the 2027 elections.
Speaking with DIP CONNECT ONLINE NEWS, Aduba stressed that elections require extensive planning, logistics, procurement, printing, and mobilisation, all of which depend on timely funding.
He cautioned that delayed disbursement creates opportunities for undue political influence and could expose the electoral process to unnecessary risks.
According to him, anyone attempting to delay funding for INEC at this stage is not acting in the best interest of Nigeria's democracy.
INEC Says Preparations Remain on Course
Responding to the concerns, a senior INEC official, who requested anonymity, assured that there was no reason for alarm.
The official explained that funding for general elections is released in phases rather than as a single payment and said the Federal Government has remained supportive of the commission's financial requirements.
He maintained that INEC is financially on track and that preparations, including technology upgrades and procurement of election materials, are progressing according to schedule.
The debate comes as political parties, election observers, and civil society organisations continue to advocate for early preparations to prevent the logistical shortcomings experienced during previous elections and to strengthen public confidence in the 2027 electoral process.
Although INEC insists it remains within the timeline provided by the Electoral Act, analysts believe the coming months will determine whether the commission can successfully complete procurement, technology upgrades, and other critical pre-election activities needed to deliver credible nationwide elections.
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and State Assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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