INEC confirms N500bn+ received for 2027 polls amid debt concerns
INEC Commissioner Mohammed Haruna announced receipt of over N500 billion for the 2027 general elections, representing over 50% of the allocated budget. He disclosed this during an Arise News interview on Friday, noting the funds were released approximately one to two weeks ago. While welcoming this development, Haruna highlighted outstanding obligations: N6 billion owed to contractors from previous elections and over N20 billion outstanding from the N140 billion statutory allocation for that year. He expressed concern about timely release of remaining funds to fully implement election preparations.
Despite funding concerns, INEC has commenced preparations, including procuring BVAS devices. Haruna revealed the Director of ICT and another official traveled to China to finalize BVAS importation, emphasizing preparations began prior to the fund release. The total election budget exceeds N1 trillion since N500bn constitutes over half, though the exact figure wasn't specified. Outstanding debts could impact vendor payments and election readiness if unresolved.
With over N500 billion secured but significant debts remaining, will INEC resolve these funding gaps in time to ensure smooth 2027 elections, or could delays disrupt voter access and materials distribution?