The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it is yet to receive any budgetary allocation from the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, despite having submitted its funding proposal to the National Assembly.

The Commission revealed that preparations for the 2027 polls are yet to commence in full due to the absence of appropriated funds, stressing that timely financing is critical to ensuring a credible and well-organised electoral process. INEC had earlier proposed a budget of ₦873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

The proposed expenditure covers election logistics, procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, technology deployment, voter education, personnel training, security coordination, and other operational requirements.

The electoral body explained that the Electoral Act provides for early planning and funding of elections to enable it to carry out key pre-election activities such as voter registration, procurement processes, recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, and testing of electoral technologies.

Officials noted that no specific allocation has yet been made available for the exercise, raising concerns over the timelines for implementing critical electoral activities ahead of the polls.

Political analysts have warned that delays in releasing election funds could affect INEC's ability to meet statutory deadlines and adequately prepare for the nationwide elections.

The disclosure comes amid growing public interest in preparations for the 2027 general elections, with political parties already intensifying consultations and positioning ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Observers have called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to expedite the approval and release of election funds to ensure INEC has sufficient time to conduct free, fair, credible and transparent elections in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.