FG’s N135bn budget for election lawsuits

Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Federal Government has proposed the sum of N135.22billion in the 2026 budget for post-election disputes. The allocation, described as the “Electoral Adjudication and Post-Election Provision” was contained in the House of Representatives Order Paper for March 31, 2026, which carried the report on the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

The allocation, captured under the Service-Wide Votes, which is a centrally managed pool of funds used by the federal government to finance obligations not tied to a specific ministry, department and agency, has been criticised by many Nigerians, politicians and civil society organisations for its excessiveness. Both the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have condemned the huge allocation for settling post-election litigation.

Both parties have raised concerns over the size of the post-election litigation budget given the expectations of credible polls in the country. Similarly, the ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has condemned the government’s decision, which indicates that Nigeria’s electoral process is “being designed to fail.” In a statement issued to journalists in Abuja recently, the AAN described the huge allocation as a sharp and unjustifiable increase compared to previous election cycles. According to AAN, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) allocated about N2.104 billion for litigation and prosecution in 2022, and N3.083billion in 2023 to handle post-election cases. The group also observed that “the sudden jump to N135billion is unprecedented and raises serious concerns about priorities, planning and accountability within Nigeria’s electoral system.”

INEC had in February informed the National Assembly that it required N873.78billion to conduct the 2027 general election. It also asked for N171billion to fund operations in the 2026 fiscal year. We recall that the federal government released N313.4billion for the 2023 elections.

Given that previous amount for post-election litigation hovered between N2billion and N3billion, the current amount of N135.22billion is very excessive and unacceptable. The N873.78billion for the 2027 polls is enough for INEC to conduct the election and handle post-election disputes. INEC does not need another N135.22 billion for such a task.

Moreover, this is coming at a time the new INEC chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that he would conduct the best election ever in the history of the country. He also said that he would conduct an election in which the loser will congratulate the winner. With Amupitan’s firm promise on free, fair and transparent election, the federal government should not budget the excessive amount of money for post-election disputes.

We say this because it is needless and uncalled for. Also, considering the dire economic situation of the country where many households and businesses are suffocating under severe hardship, proposing such an amount for post-election lawsuits is insensitive. Election as a democratic practice should be free, fair and credible. All stakeholders should work towards achieving that purpose.

For the Federal Government to propose to spend that mind-boggling amount on post-election disputes shows that it is anticipating more cases and suggests that the 2027 elections may not be free, fair and transparent as expected by Nigerians. There is also the N1.01trillion statutory transfer to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 2026 fiscal proposal.

Considering the mounting opposition against the proposed N135.22billion post-election dispute budget, we urge the government to either cancel the allocation or review it drastically. A country with intractable security challenges should not have the luxury of devoting a whopping N135.22billion for post-election disputes alone. It is, indeed, a misplacement of national priority.

The decision of the Federal Government to propose such huge amount for post-election adjudication portends danger for Nigeria’s democracy. If INEC is committed to conducting a free and fair election, if the electoral body is sincere about ensuring that the 2027 is free and fair, then there would be no need for the Federal Government to anticipate disputes that would require such humongous amount of money in a country where millions of citizens are ravaged by poverty.

The decision of the government to propose such huge amount of money for post-election lawsuits is questionable. There is no doubt that elections will normally attract lawsuits, but such cases do not require the huge budget being proposed by the Federal Government.