The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has appealed for increased and sustained funding to enable the commission to effectively conduct the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Shehu, in Abuja, Amupitan revealed that conducting governorship elections alone costs more than the combined expenses of the presidential and National Assembly elections.
He explained that INEC’s constitutional responsibilities extend beyond conducting elections. They include continuous voter registration, political party registration, and handling pre-election and post-election matters, including litigation arising from party primaries.
Amupitan noted that INEC operates offices in all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and the country’s 774 local government areas, with the Federal Government funding the commission’s nationwide operations.
He also called for improved welfare packages for INEC staff, warning that poor remuneration has led to the loss of experienced personnel to migration. According to him, better salaries and working conditions are essential for retaining skilled workers, preserving institutional knowledge, boosting staff morale, and strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.
The INEC chairman further stressed the need for greater investment in electoral infrastructure, technology, and personnel training to enhance the commission’s capacity to deliver credible elections.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections, announcing that the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
He also disclosed that an off-cycle governorship election in Osun State is slated for August 15, 2026, adding that the commission’s recent governorship election in Ekiti State and several bye-elections had been widely praised both within Nigeria and internationally.
In response, RMAFC Chairman Dr. Mohammed Shehu commended INEC for consistently conducting elections since 1999 and pledged the commission’s support in ensuring adequate collaboration and funding to help INEC successfully deliver credible elections in 2027.
