The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, has stated that adequate funding of elections is crucial for providing the necessary security and logistics for a successful 2027 general election. He made this statement on Wednesday in Owerri, Imo State, at the sixth edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers. The theme of the conference was "Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections."
Prof Amupitan was accompanied by several high-ranking officials, including National Commissioners Dr Ken Nnamdi Ukeagu and Rear Admiral Jamila Abubakar Malaga (Rtd), as well as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State, Chukwuemeka C Ibeziakor. He emphasized that INEC's funding is constitutionally provided as a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, but the scale of its responsibilities requires sustained financial support. The Commission is responsible for various elections, voter registration, and registration of political parties.
The INEC chairman highlighted that voter registration remains the foundation of credible elections, warning that an inaccurate or outdated register could undermine inclusiveness. He stressed that adequate funding is particularly important for deployment of personnel and materials to local governments, wards, registration areas, and polling units. Even with security agencies maintaining peace, poor logistics could still undermine an election, he noted.
Prof Amupitan argued that election expenditure, including security costs, should be treated as a collective national responsibility, as INEC conducts elections affecting the three tiers of government. He noted that under his leadership, security and logistics have been made top priorities, and the Commission is working with government and security agencies to ensure operational challenges do not jeopardize the 2027 polls.
The INEC chairman highlighted the role of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which brings INEC and security agencies together to coordinate election security. The committee operates at federal, state, and local government levels, with the police remaining the lead agency in election security. He cited recent off-cycle elections as evidence of the importance of security coordination.
Prof Amupitan noted that stronger coordination will be required ahead of 2027, recalling that timely intervention by security agencies helped resolve incidents that could have disrupted the process. He emphasized that Nigeria wants the best electoral system possible, but achieving this requires a cost.
The INEC chairman's statement comes as the country prepares for the 2027 general election. Adequate funding for elections has been a long-standing concern, with many stakeholders emphasizing its importance for ensuring the credibility and security of the electoral process.
Key points
- Adequate funding is critical for providing security and logistics for a successful 2027 general election.
- INEC conducts elections affecting the three tiers of government, making election expenditure a collective national responsibility.
- The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) plays a crucial role in coordinating election security.
