The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is projected to spend about N870 billion (approximately $600 million) to conduct Nigeria’s 2027 general election, according to Professor Bolade Eyinla, immediate past Chief Technical Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
Eyinla made the projection in Abuja during his keynote address at the Yiaga Africa 2027 Elections Scenarios and Election Manipulation Risk Index (EMRI) Retreat. His remarks came just days after the conclusion of Professor Yakubu’s ten-year tenure on October 7, 2025.
He explained that elections in Nigeria rank among the largest civil operations conducted in peacetime, demanding huge financial, technological, and logistical resources.
According to him, the estimated cost reflects the scale of Nigeria’s electoral landscape over 93 million registered voters, 176,846 polling units, and 1,558 constituencies nationwide.
Eyinla said the projection was derived from previous election expenditures, noting that the 2015 elections cost N109 billion ($662 million), the 2019 elections N189 billion ($619 million), and the 2023 elections N355 billion ($628 million).
He explained that after adjusting for inflation, currency devaluation, and expansion in operations, the projected N870 billion for 2027 is both realistic and necessary.
> “On a per-voter basis, the estimated cost is about $6.72, which is within international norms for transitional democracies,” Eyinla said.
Comparing Nigeria’s election costs with other countries, he stated that Nigeria’s spending remains among the lowest in Africa. For instance, Kenya spent $25.9 per voter in 2017 and $14.9 in 2022, while Ghana recorded $13.1 in 2016 and $7.7 in 2020. Similarly, South Africa spent $5.1 per voter in 2019 and $7.1 in 2024, while the Democratic Republic of Congo spent $22 and $14.37 per voter in 2023. In comparison, India, the world’s largest democracy, spent $8.5 per voter in 2019.
Eyinla emphasized that under Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, election funds must be released at least one year before the polls. Therefore, he advised that the 2027 election budget should be appropriated across the 2025, 2026, and 2027 fiscal years to ensure smooth preparation.
He further stressed the importance of prudent financial management to maintain cost-effectiveness while safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
Highlighting key cost drivers, Eyinla said the deployment of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and biometric verification systems such as AFIS and ABIS would remain central to credible elections.
He revealed that in 2023, voter registration and accreditation devices accounted for about 35 percent of the total election budget a trend expected to persist or even increase in 2027.
According to him, INEC also faces significant logistical challenges, as it must deliver personnel and materials to over 200,000 polling locations, including remote, riverine, and conflict-prone areas.
> “INEC depends heavily on service providers for vehicles, boats, aircraft, and armed escorts to ensure the timely and secure delivery of election materials,” he noted.
Eyinla concluded that while the 2027 elections will demand substantial resources, strategic planning and transparent management will be key to ensuring credible and efficient polls.
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