BREAKING: INEC 2027 Elections Budget Hits ₦903.78bn as Senate Proposes Additional ₦30bn

• The Senate has proposed an additional ₦30 billion for INEC to strengthen preparations for the 2027 elections, as Tinubu engages lawmakers and stakeholders call for urgent electoral reforms.

The Senate Committee on Electoral Matters has recommended an additional ₦30 billion allocation for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The proposed increase would raise the commission’s total election budget from ₦873.78 billion to ₦903.78 billion, with lawmakers noting that the extra funds are intended to improve logistics, enhance operational capacity, and address challenges associated with conducting nationwide polls.

Meanwhile, Bola Ahmed Tinubu hosted members of the Senate at a Ramadan Iftar at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in what observers described as a strategic engagement blending religious observance with political consultation. The closed-door meeting, which began after 6:30 p.m., provided an informal platform for dialogue between the executive and the legislature.

The gathering came shortly after a similar Iftar with state governors, reinforcing a pattern of using Ramadan engagements to build consensus and strengthen inter-governmental cooperation. Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior officials were in attendance.

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In a related development, human rights lawyer Olisa Agbakoba renewed calls for urgent electoral reforms, emphasising the need to legally guarantee electronic transmission of results. He warned that the current manual collation system creates opportunities for manipulation as results move across various collation centres.

Agbakoba also pointed out that although INEC has guidelines supporting electronic transmission, the lack of clear legal backing in the Electoral Act undermines its implementation, citing judicial interpretations that prioritise statutory provisions over administrative guidelines.

The developments come as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with stakeholders calling for reforms to enhance transparency and credibility in the electoral process.