The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially proposed a budget of ₦873.7 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

Presented in February 2026, this proposal represents a significant 145% increase over the 2023 election cycle (which cost approximately ₦355 billion). INEC officials have dubbed this the “Budget of Consolidation,” citing hyperinflation and the need to streamline election funding as primary drivers for the record-breaking figure.

Budget Breakdown​The ₦873.7 billion is categorized into three major pillars of electoral expenditure:

The commission highlighted several factors that necessitated this steep increase:

​Hyperinflation & Logistics: Sharp increases in fuel prices and transport costs have drastically inflated the cost of moving materials to over 176,000 polling units.

Digital Voter Cards: INEC plans to transition to QR-coded Digital Voter Cards to reduce forgery and streamline the accreditation process

Cybersecurity Focus: Unlike 2023, which saw massive hardware purchases, the 2027 budget prioritizes “intensive maintenance” and high-level protection against election-day hacking attempts.

Continuous Voter Registration (CVR): The budget accounts for the registration of an estimated 10 million new voters ahead of the polls.

Strategic Roadmap​Before the 2027 “Big Dance,” INEC will use upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti, Osun, and Anambra (slated for 2026) as live testing grounds for the new technology and logistical strategies outlined in this budget.

Note: This proposal now moves to the National Assembly for deliberation. Lawmakers have already signaled that they will scrutinize the “Election Technology” portion heavily, given the public debates surrounding tech performance in previous cycles.