Some major opposition parties in Nigeria have warned that delayed funding of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the Federal Government ( FG) could derail preparations and undermine the integrity of the 2027 general polls .
The polls fall due from January for the presidency, state governors within the general elections cycle, the National Assembly ( NASS) and state legislatures.
The BASS comoruses two of chambers – the lower arm, called the House of Representatives, and the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature, also called the Senate.
The African Democratic Congress,( ADC) Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and Nigeria Democratic Congress ( NDC) had said they fear that late disbursement could disrupt procurement timelines, erode public confidence, and threaten the smooth conduct of the polls.
But INEC dismissed the concerns, insisting it remained financially on track and preparations were proceeding as scheduled.
The ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) backed the commission, expressing confidence that President Tinubu would ensure the timely release of funds.
The controversy followed INEC’s disclosure that it had yet to receive budgetary releases for the elections. The commission had proposed N873.78bn for the 2027 polls, one of Nigeria’s largest electoral budgets.
Election experts warn that timely funding is critical, as sensitive materials and technology require months of international procurement and testing across over 176,000 polling units. Late funding could expose the process to political interference and logistical failures in reminiscent of the 2023 election challenges.
INEC maintained that funding follows a phased release pattern and that preparations, including technology upgrades and material procurements, were on schedule.
With the 2027 elections set for January 16 (presidential/NASS) and February 6 (governorship/state assemblies), analysts say the coming months would determine if INEC could sustain its timeline and deliver a credible poll.
