By Obah Sylva
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has urged the Federal Government to urgently release outstanding funds allocated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that delays could affect the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Key Highlights
- IPAC Chairman Yusuf Dantalle urged the Federal Government to release outstanding INEC funds.
- INEC’s projected budget for the 2027 elections is about ₦873.78 billion.
- More than ₦500 billion has reportedly been released, leaving about ₦371 billion outstanding.
- IPAC warned that delayed funding could disrupt procurement and production of critical electoral materials.
- INEC has moved into the execution phase of its preparations for the 2027 elections.
- The commission says the voter register has risen to about 103 million following Continuous Voter Registration.
IPAC Demands Release of Outstanding INEC Funds
IPAC National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle made the appeal during an interview on ARISE News, as INEC entered the final phase of preparations for the 2027 general elections scheduled to begin with the presidential and National Assembly polls on January 16, 2027.
Dantalle said INEC had faced funding constraints for an extended period and warned that the issue had become increasingly urgent as the commission moves from planning to implementing critical election activities.
He stressed that timely funding was necessary to prevent INEC from being forced to rush procurement and production processes close to election day.
Dantalle Warns Against Rushed Electoral Procurement
According to the IPAC chairman, some materials required for the elections are not produced locally, making early funding essential for procurement and delivery.
He warned that delays could force the commission and its contractors to rush the production of imported equipment and other election materials, potentially creating operational challenges.
“If they are made to rush into the production of this equipment, it might be disastrous for the smooth processing of our election,” Dantalle said.
He said the warning reflected the position of political parties represented under IPAC.
INEC 2027 Election Budget Put at ₦873.78 Billion
INEC’s projected budget for the 2027 elections stands at approximately ₦873.78 billion, covering electoral operations, technology, capital expenditure and other election-related activities.
More than ₦500 billion has reportedly been released to the commission, representing more than half of the projected requirement.
However, approximately ₦371 billion remains outstanding, according to the figures cited in the report.
The outstanding funds are expected to support the completion of procurement, technology deployment, contractor payments and nationwide logistics for the elections.
INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan has also appealed for the release of the outstanding allocation to enable the commission to complete preparations, including the production of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and ballot papers.
INEC Enters Final Phase of 2027 Election Preparations
The electoral commission has described its current activities as a transition from planning to the execution phase.
The latest Continuous Voter Registration exercise added more than 10 million new voters, pushing the total number of registered voters to approximately 103 million.
INEC is scheduled to conduct the public display of the voters’ register from October 9 to October 15, while the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards is expected to begin at local government centres.
The commission has also indicated that nine of 14 statutory milestones contained in its revised February 2026 timetable have been completed.
Further preparations include stress-testing of accreditation devices and a mock accreditation exercise later in the year.
Read also:
- BREAKING: Nigeria’s Voter Register Hits 103 Million as INEC Sets October 9 for PVC Collection
- INEC Says BVAS Failure Will Not Stop 2027 Election Result Collation
- Reps Open Hearings on ₦802 Billion Audit Queries Against NNPCL, INEC
SERAP Raises Questions Over Previous INEC Spending
The funding debate comes amid separate concerns over accountability and the management of electoral resources.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has requested explanations from INEC concerning more than ₦126 billion in previous electoral expenditures flagged in the Auditor-General’s report.
The concerns reportedly include payments made without competitive bidding or certificates of no objection.
The findings relate to previous electoral cycles rather than the current 2027 election budget, but they have added to public scrutiny of how election funds are managed.
IPAC Links Funding to Political Participation
Dantalle also linked the funding issue to broader concerns over political participation in Nigeria.
He argued that regulatory bottlenecks and the high cost of entering politics can limit participation and urged Nigerians to use the 2027 elections to assess the performance of political leaders.
For IPAC, the timely release of outstanding funds would give INEC greater flexibility to complete its preparations without compressed procurement timelines, particularly for equipment and materials that must be sourced from outside Nigeria.
Pressure Mounts as 2027 Elections Approach
With the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections approaching, the gap between funds appropriated and funds released remains an important issue for INEC’s operational planning.
IPAC’s appeal places renewed focus on the need for timely funding as the commission works to complete procurement, voter registration activities, technology deployment and nationwide logistics ahead of the polls.
For more updates on the 2027 elections and Nigerian politics, follow us on X.
