The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned that Nigeria’s quest for credible 2027 elections could be undermined unless the electoral body is granted full financial autonomy to operate independently.
Key Highlights:
- INEC chairman says financial autonomy is vital for credible 2027 elections.
- Warns budget dependence weakens the commission’s operational independence.
- Calls for unrestricted access to constitutionally allocated funds.
- Says political parties, security agencies, judiciary, media and citizens share responsibility for credible polls.
- Urges faithful implementation of existing electoral laws and reforms.
Speaking at the presentation of a book in Abuja, Amupitan said INEC’s continued reliance on the Federal Government’s annual budget approval process compromises its constitutional independence and could erode public confidence in future elections.
According to him, although the 1999 Constitution provides that INEC should be funded through the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the commission still depends on annual budgetary allocations, making genuine financial independence difficult to achieve.
He argued that an electoral commission entrusted with conducting free, fair and credible elections must have unrestricted access to its constitutionally allocated funds without external interference.
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Amupitan noted that INEC’s responsibilities extend beyond conducting elections to include continuous voter registration, political party regulation, maintenance of the national voter register, voter education and the management of other electoral processes.
He said the wide scope of the commission’s constitutional responsibilities makes greater financial and operational autonomy imperative.
The INEC chairman also stressed that the success of credible 2027 elections should not rest solely on the electoral commission.
According to him, political parties, security agencies, the judiciary, the media, civil society organisations and citizens all have essential roles to play in safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Speaking on the appointment of INEC officials, Amupitan maintained that the Constitution already provides adequate safeguards to protect the commission’s independence.
However, he argued that the real challenge lies in the faithful implementation of existing constitutional and electoral provisions rather than the absence of appropriate laws.
His remarks come amid increasing calls for electoral reforms aimed at strengthening INEC’s independence, improving transparency and enhancing public confidence ahead of the 2027 general election.
