The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has expressed concerns that inadequate funding could hinder the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. Speaking at the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State, Amupitan emphasized that the commission's responsibilities extend beyond conducting elections to include voter registration, registration of political parties, and the conduct of various elections. He noted that financial constraints could limit the accomplishment of government agencies.
Amupitan highlighted the financial demands of deploying electoral personnel and materials across local government areas, wards, registration areas, and polling units. He stressed that adequate funding is essential to meeting security requirements, as INEC has statutory powers to request the deployment of security agencies during elections and voter registration. According to him, election security and logistics are inseparable from the availability of adequate resources. This, he said, is crucial for the successful conduct of elections.
The INEC chairman described voter registration as the foundation of credible elections, warning that an inaccurate or outdated voters' register could affect the inclusiveness and credibility of the electoral process. He argued that funding electoral activities, including security-related expenditure, should be treated as a collective national responsibility. Amupitan emphasized that INEC conducts elections across the three tiers of government, requiring sustained financial support.
Amupitan stressed the importance of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in coordinating INEC, the police, other security agencies, and relevant government institutions. He noted that the committee, established after the 2011 general elections, has evolved into a structured platform operating at the federal, state, and local government levels. This coordination is crucial for effective election security.
The chairman urged senior police officers to maintain professional neutrality, strengthen intelligence gathering, and improve coordination with INEC and other relevant agencies. He reflected on recent off-cycle elections, which demonstrated the importance of effective security coordination in preventing incidents from disrupting the electoral process. The lessons from those elections should be incorporated into preparations for 2027.
Amupitan emphasized that Nigerians expect a highly effective electoral system, but achieving such standards comes with financial obligations. He urged relevant authorities to provide INEC and security agencies with the necessary resources to discharge their responsibilities effectively. The chairman expressed optimism that the Owerri retreat would produce an actionable roadmap for election security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The INEC chairman's warning comes as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections. With the commission's responsibilities extending beyond conducting elections, adequate funding is crucial for the successful conduct of elections. The chairman's call for sustained financial support and effective coordination among agencies is timely, as the country seeks to improve its electoral system.
Key points
- Inadequate funding could hamper the security, logistics, and other operations required for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
- The INEC chairman emphasized the importance of voter registration as the foundation of credible elections.
- Effective coordination among agencies, including INEC, the police, and other security agencies, is crucial for election security.
