INEC Reaffirms Tech-Driven 2027 Elections, Clarifies N273 Billion Budget
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated its commitment to using technology for the 2027 general elections, while clarifying that the election budget stands at N273 billion, not the rumoured N1 trillion. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made these announcements in Abuja during the release of the official timetable and activity schedules for the polls.
Central to INEC’s operational plan are the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), technologies mandated by the Electoral Act 2022. Prof. Amupitan stated that the commission is proactively enhancing these systems to prevent glitches. “We have built the IReV; we have improved on it and we are improving on our BVAS,” he said, adding that robust internal systems are already in place to ensure result transmission regardless of external debates on technology.
To bolster public trust, INEC will conduct a mock presidential election to test the technological robustness before the 2027 cycle. He clarified that BVAS devices are already being reconfigured and tested for upcoming elections, including in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), refuting any suggestion that technology is being abandoned.
The significant budget of N273 billion is largely attributed to rising operational costs, particularly for ad-hoc staff. Prof. Amupitan explained that a recent House of Representatives resolution to increase allowances for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members added approximately N32 billion to the budget, as INEC engages about 450,000 corps members. Crucially, this increase must be extended to the four polling officials per unit—Presiding Officer and three Assistant Presiding Officers—multiplying the cost. Factors like staff training, security deployment, inflation, and foreign exchange fluctuations further contribute to the total.
Addressing the possibility of holding all elections on a single day to eliminate off-cycle polls, the INEC chairman noted this would require a constitutional amendment. Sections 76 and 118 of the Constitution stipulate that elections must occur no later than 150 days before a tenure ends. Off-cycle elections, he explained, are a consequence of past judicial rulings that reset governors’ tenures at different times.
Prof. Amupitan also denied reports that he proposed building new hospitals, clarifying that INEC’s request is solely for drugs and maintenance of existing clinics for staff welfare, not new construction.
The outlined timetable and budget signal INEC’s focus on leveraging proven technology while managing realistic financial and constitutional constraints as it prepares for the 2027 general elections. The commission’s next steps will involve detailed logistics implementation and continued engagement with stakeholders on the electoral process.
