By AmforGod Olisa
As preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections gather momentum, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has renewed its call for increased and sustained funding to discharge its constitutional responsibilities effectively. The Commission argues that credible elections depend not only on legal authority but also on adequate financial resources, investment in technology, institutional capacity, and the retention of experienced personnel.
At first glance, this may appear to be another routine budget request by a government agency. It is not.
The appeal raises a more fundamental question about democratic governance:
Can an electoral commission deliver credible elections if it lacks the resources required to perform its constitutional mandate?
This question deserves serious national attention because the credibility of elections depends as much on institutional preparedness as it does on political conduct.
The Cost of Democracy
Democracy is often described as government by the people, but every democracy rests upon institutions that make popular choice possible.
Elections require far more than ballot papers and polling units. They depend on continuous voter registration, technology infrastructure, logistics, personnel training, voter education, election security, legal compliance, dispute management, and transparent result management.
Each of these functions carries financial implications.
When electoral institutions operate under financial uncertainty, planning becomes reactive rather than strategic. Recruitment is delayed, technology upgrades are postponed, staff development suffers, and institutional memory is weakened through the loss of experienced personnel. These operational deficiencies may not be visible to citizens during the electoral cycle, but they often become evident on election day.
Credible elections are therefore not produced by last-minute preparations. They are the outcome of sustained institutional investment.
Funding and Institutional Independence
The discussion should not be reduced to whether INEC deserves more money. A more important consideration is whether Nigeria’s electoral management body possesses the institutional capacity to act independently, professionally, and efficiently.
Around the world, electoral commissions are expected to function as impartial constitutional institutions. That expectation cannot be realized if financial dependence compromises operational planning or limits long-term preparedness.
Institutional independence is not secured solely through constitutional provisions. It is also strengthened by predictable funding, transparent financial oversight, competent personnel, and modern administrative systems.
Financial autonomy, accompanied by robust accountability mechanisms, enhances both operational effectiveness and public confidence.
Preparing Before the Campaigns Begin
Public attention often shifts to elections only when political campaigns intensify. By then, however, much of the real work should already have been completed.
Electoral credibility is built long before the first campaign rally. It begins with accurate voter registration, reliable electoral technology, continuous staff training, logistical planning, procurement processes, stakeholder engagement, and effective risk management.
These activities cannot be compressed into a few months preceding an election.
Nigeria’s electoral calendar demands continuous preparation, not periodic mobilization. Sustainable funding therefore becomes a governance issue rather than merely an administrative one.
Public Confidence Is the Ultimate Objective
Every election produces winners and losers. What distinguishes mature democracies is not the absence of political disagreement but the confidence that citizens place in the integrity of the electoral process.
When voters believe institutions are competent, impartial, and adequately prepared, they are more likely to accept electoral outcomes—even when their preferred candidates do not prevail.
Conversely, where confidence in electoral institutions declines, political contestation increasingly shifts from the ballot box to the courtroom and, in some cases, to the streets.
Protecting public trust must therefore remain a central objective of electoral governance.
The Responsibility of Government and Citizens
Strengthening electoral institutions is not the responsibility of INEC alone.
The National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility to provide timely appropriations and effective oversight. The Executive must ensure that approved resources are released promptly and transparently. Political parties must respect electoral rules and democratic norms, while civil society organizations and the media must continue to promote civic education and institutional accountability.
Citizens also have a responsibility. Public scrutiny should extend beyond election day to include how electoral institutions are funded, managed, and strengthened between election cycles.
Democracy flourishes when accountability becomes continuous rather than seasonal.
