By Obinna Uballa
Citizen Monitors, a civic technology and election integrity group, has questioned the proposed N1.01 trillion budget earmarked for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, warning that the allocation is excessive and lacks the transparency required to justify such massive public spending.
The group made its position known in a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Olajumoke Alawode-James, amid growing public debate over the scale of funding proposed for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Citizen Monitors said committing more than one trillion naira to elections at a time of severe economic hardship, insecurity and crumbling infrastructure raises serious concerns about government priorities.
“Elections are meant to serve the people, not drain scarce public resources,” Alawode-James said.
She argued that without a detailed, itemised breakdown explaining how the funds would improve efficiency, transparency and credibility, the proposed budget risks becoming an exercise in wasteful spending.
“N1.01 trillion without a clear performance-based framework is not electoral reform; it is a costly gamble with public funds,” she said.
The organisation recalled that over N300 billion was reportedly spent on the 2023 general elections, which were marred by technological glitches, logistics failures and disputes over credibility. It noted that Nigerians are yet to see a comprehensive public audit explaining how the funds were utilised or what corrective measures were adopted.
“Before Nigerians are asked to finance a N1.01 trillion election, they deserve answers about the failures of 2023 and assurances that those mistakes will not be repeated in 2027,” the statement said.
Citizen Monitors warned that pouring more money into the electoral process without fixing structural weaknesses would not automatically deliver credible elections, stressing that credibility is rooted in transparency, accountability and institutional discipline.
The group called for a forensic audit of 2023 election spending, a public and detailed breakdown of the proposed 2027 budget, measurable performance indicators tied to funding, independent oversight by civil society and full public access to polling-unit results and procurement records.
“At a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling to afford basic necessities, spending N1.01 trillion on an election that may still fail credibility tests is not only irresponsible, it is unethical,” the group said.
Citizen Monitors insisted that public confidence in elections can only be restored if election managers and political leaders demonstrate openness and accountability.
“If INEC and the political class want Nigerians to trust the process, they must open the books, release the data and show that every naira will produce verifiable and auditable votes,” the organisation added.
The statement comes against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s 2026 budget proposal, which includes substantial provisions for preparations toward the 2027 general elections.
According to details of the 2026 Appropriation Bill released by the Budget Office of the Federation, INEC was allocated N1.013 trillion, making it one of the largest election-related allocations in the commission’s history.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier presented a N58.18 trillion budget to the National Assembly, tagged Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity. The proposal projects total revenue of N34.33 trillion against total expenditure of N58.18 trillion, with N15.52 trillion set aside for debt servicing.
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