ABUJA — Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has disclosed that the cost of conducting governorship elections alone exceeds the combined cost of presidential and National Assembly elections, as he appealed to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for increased and consistent funding ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Advertisements
Amupitan made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to RMAFC Chairman Dr Mohammed Shehu in Abuja on Monday, describing the visit as part of ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration between the two federal bodies, according to an INEC daily bulletin.
Advertisements
The bulletin noted that INEC’s constitutional mandate covers elections for the offices of President, Vice President, the National Assembly, state governors, state houses of assembly, and the FCT area councils, in addition to continuous voter registration and political party registration. Amupitan said the commission also bears the financial burden of pre-election and post-election matters, including election petitions arising from party primaries, and maintains offices across all 36 states, the FCT, and all 774 local government areas, with the federal government currently funding these operations in full.
The INEC chairman stressed the need for improved welfare packages for commission staff, arguing that competitive remuneration is essential to retaining skilled personnel. He said INEC had recently lost experienced staff to migration, which he linked in part to inadequate pay, warning that a widening skills gap could emerge as more experienced personnel approach retirement. Improved welfare, he said, would boost morale and strengthen public confidence in the commission’s electoral outcomes. He also called for greater investment in infrastructure, electoral technology, and personnel training to safeguard institutional knowledge.
Amupitan assured RMAFC of INEC’s commitment to delivering free, fair, transparent, and credible elections, noting that presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, with governorship and state assembly elections to follow on February 6, 2027. He also disclosed that INEC would conduct an off-cycle governorship election in Osun State on August 15, 2026, adding that the commission’s recent governorship election in Ekiti State and bye-elections in other states had drawn commendation locally and internationally.
Responding, Shehu commended INEC for its consistency in conducting elections since 1999 and pledged RMAFC’s support toward ensuring credible polls in 2027. He acknowledged the scale of INEC’s responsibilities across federal, state, and local government levels, describing its operational demands as enormous given its nationwide presence, and assured Amupitan that RMAFC remained open to continued engagement.
Amupitan was accompanied by national commissioners, the Secretary of the Commission, technical aides, and directors, while Shehu received the delegation alongside the RMAFC vice chairman, commissioners, and senior directors.
Advertisements
