FG budgets N135bn for election litigation ahead of 2027 polls

The Federal Government’s proposed ₦135.22 billion allocation for “Electoral Adjudication and Post-Election Provision” in the 2026 budget has sparked widespread debate, with opposition parties, legal experts, and civil society groups questioning both its size and implications for Nigeria’s democracy.

 

The provision, captured under the Service-Wide Votes in the appropriation bill, reflects what analysts describe as a major financial commitment to managing disputes and obligations that typically follow elections. The fund forms part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund charges, where it accounts for about 3.65 per cent of the ₦3.70 trillion allocation.

 

This comes alongside a ₦1.01 trillion statutory transfer to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which had earlier projected ₦873.78 billion as the cost of conducting the 2027 general elections.

 

However, the new litigation budget has drawn sharp criticism.

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the provision raises doubts about INEC’s preparedness to conduct credible elections. Its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, argued that the allocation suggests an expectation of widespread disputes.

 

“It means that INEC itself is anticipating that it will not do well and that people will not accept the outcome of the results,” he said, adding that greater transparency would “drastically reduce” post-election litigation.

 

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) described the amount as excessive, even if preparing for legal disputes is standard practice. Its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, questioned the scale of cases being anticipated.

 

“If elections are free and transparent, litigation should be minimal,” he said.

 

Legal experts also faulted the figure. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, described the allocation as unjustifiably high, noting that INEC already maintains an internal legal structure.

 

“INEC does not pay more than ₦3 million per brief… Altogether, INEC may not spend up to ₦20 billion on election legal battles,” Falana said.

 

Political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, questioned the rationale entirely, arguing that elections are contested by candidates, not the government.

 

“It is not the Federal Government that goes to elections… so why should the Federal Government have a budget for it?” he asked.

 

Civil society organisations warned that the allocation signals deeper systemic issues. Executive Director of #FixPolitics Africa, Anthony Ubani, said budgeting heavily for litigation reflects declining trust in the electoral process.

 

“A credible electoral system should settle outcomes at the ballot box, not in the courtroom,” he said, warning that the trend encourages manipulation and weakens accountability.

 

On his part, Debo Adeniran of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership cautioned against duplication, noting that INEC already receives substantial funding and should manage its legal expenses independently.

 

“It would be like double appropriation,” he said.

 

Also, Auwal Rafsanjani of CISLAC described the development as “troubling,” suggesting it may indicate expectations of flawed elections.

 

“The idea of this huge amount… shows that there appears to be a premeditated plan to create conditions for election disputes,” he said.

 

Despite the criticism, some stakeholders acknowledged that election-related litigation can be costly, given the scale of Nigeria’s electoral system. However, many insisted that investing in transparency and credible processes would significantly reduce the need for such expenditure.

 

The debate underscores growing concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.