The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has highlighted the importance of adequate funding for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. Speaking at the sixth edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State, Amupitan emphasized that sufficient funding is critical for providing the necessary security and logistics. He noted that INEC's responsibilities, including presidential and National Assembly elections, governorship and state House of Assembly elections, voter registration, and political party registration, require sustained financial support.
Amupitan explained that INEC's funding is constitutionally provided as a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund. However, the scale of its responsibilities demands additional financial support to effectively discharge its mandate. The INEC chairman stressed that security is an integral component of the electoral process, citing the commission's statutory powers to request the deployment of security agencies during elections and voter registration. He also noted that financial constraints can limit the commission's ability to carry out its duties as desired.
The INEC chairman emphasized that voter registration is the foundation of credible elections, warning that an inaccurate or outdated voters' register could undermine the inclusiveness of the electoral process. He also highlighted the importance of adequate funding for the deployment of personnel and electoral materials to local government areas, wards, registration areas, and polling units across the country. Amupitan noted that even with effective security measures, inadequate logistics can still affect the conduct of an election.
Amupitan disclosed that security and logistics have been prioritized under his leadership, with the commission working closely with the government and security agencies to ensure that operational challenges do not undermine the 2027 elections. He also highlighted the role of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which coordinates INEC and relevant security and government agencies in election security management. ICCES operates at the federal, state, and local government levels, with the Inspector-General of Police participating at the national level.
The INEC chairman stressed the need for stronger coordination among security agencies ahead of the 2027 polls, noting that the police remain the lead agency in election security. He cited recent off-cycle elections as demonstrating the importance of adequate security and inter-agency coordination in resolving incidents that could have disrupted the electoral process. Amupitan urged stakeholders to draw lessons from recent elections and strengthen preparations for 2027, particularly in intelligence gathering, logistics, and inter-agency coordination.
Amupitan noted that Nigerians expect an effective electoral system, but achieving such standards requires adequate resources. He urged relevant authorities to provide the necessary resources for INEC and security agencies to effectively discharge their responsibilities. The INEC chairman reaffirmed INEC's commitment to strengthening operational synergy through ICCES and expressed optimism that the Owerri retreat would produce an actionable roadmap for election security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Also speaking at the event, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, urged the leadership and operational personnel of the Nigeria Police Force to provide the necessary support and cooperation to the INEC chairman in discharging his mandate. Badejo-Okusanya emphasized that effective policing support is vital to safeguarding the electoral process and facilitating the conduct of free, fair, credible, and transparent elections across the country.
Key points
- Adequate funding is critical for providing the necessary security and logistics for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
- INEC's responsibilities require sustained financial support to effectively discharge its mandate.
- Stronger coordination among security agencies is necessary to ensure effective election security ahead of the 2027 polls.
