The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned that inadequate and delayed funding could affect the security and logistics required for the successful conduct of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Amupitan raised the concern on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, in Owerri, Imo State, while delivering a goodwill message at the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers. The conference focused on developing a roadmap for effective election security management ahead of the 2027 polls.
The INEC chairman explained that the commission’s responsibilities go beyond organising presidential and National Assembly elections. Its mandate also covers governorship and State House of Assembly elections, continuous voter registration and the registration of political parties.
According to Amupitan, the broad nature of INEC’s responsibilities requires sustained financial support. He noted that although the commission’s funding is constitutionally provided as a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the scale of its electoral responsibilities makes adequate resources essential for effective operations.
He particularly highlighted the financial demands associated with deploying electoral personnel and sensitive and non-sensitive materials to local government areas, wards, registration areas and polling units across the country.
Amupitan stressed that election security and logistics are closely connected. While security agencies may succeed in maintaining peace at polling locations, inadequate logistical arrangements could still disrupt the electoral process.
He also pointed out that INEC relies on security agencies during elections and voter-registration activities, making adequate funding and effective coordination important components of election preparation.
The INEC chairman further called for stronger collaboration between the commission, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
He said the committee has developed into an important platform for coordinating election-security efforts at the federal, state and local government levels. The arrangement originated following concerns over post-election violence after the 2011 general elections and has since evolved into a more structured mechanism for inter-agency coordination.
Amupitan urged senior police officers to maintain professional neutrality, strengthen intelligence gathering and work closely with other stakeholders to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
He also emphasised that lessons from recent off-cycle elections should inform preparations for the 2027 general elections, particularly in the areas of security, intelligence, logistics and inter-agency cooperation.
The INEC chairman maintained that Nigerians expect a highly effective electoral system, but achieving that standard requires the necessary financial and operational resources.
He therefore called on relevant authorities to provide INEC and security agencies with the funding required to effectively discharge their responsibilities ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC has already released its timetable for the 2027 general elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for February 20, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
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With preparations for the elections continuing, the funding question is expected to remain an important part of discussions surrounding election security, logistics and the overall administration of the 2027 polls.
