Delayed funding not a threat to polls – APC

The APC rejected suggestions that INEC’s preparations were under threat.

The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, told Sunday PUNCH that the ruling party had absolute confidence in the leadership of the electoral commission and believed Tinubu would provide all necessary support for the successful conduct of the elections.

He stated, “The APC has implicit confidence in the current leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission, ably led by Prof Joash Amupitan and the Commission’s management.

“As for the alleged delay in the release of funding, we are not aware of such information. However, I am confident that President Tinubu will not shirk his constitutional responsibility to protect and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

“He has consistently demonstrated his commitment to democratic governance, and there is no reason to believe that INEC will be denied the funds it requires under this administration.”

Meseko added that election preparations were progressing according to plan.

He said, “It is important to note that the country is currently undergoing an economic reorientation, with the president prioritising prudent spending and eliminating wasteful expenditures. Despite this, INEC remains a top priority.

“The commission recently conducted a free, fair and credible election in Ekiti State without raising concerns over logistics or funding. As we speak, INEC has more than enough election materials on the ground to conduct any election.

“Furthermore, the 2027 general election is still some time away. Anyone monitoring the INEC procurement portal will have noticed that the commission has, in recent months, advertised several contracts for the supply of election materials and related services.

“These advertisements show that procurement processes are already underway. Once those processes are concluded, the necessary resources will be released. Therefore, there is no cause for alarm, as preparations for the 2027 elections are progressing in line with established procedures.”

Delayed funding could joepardise 2027 elections – Yiaga Africa

Reacting to the development, a member of the Board of Trustees of Yiaga Africa, Professor Nnamdi Aduba, warned that any delay in releasing funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission could jeopardise the credibility of the 2027 elections.

Aduba, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, said elections required extensive planning and timely funding to enable the electoral umpire to execute critical pre-election activities, including procurement, logistics and personnel mobilisation.

“Elections are very expensive. A lot of things must be in place. INEC’s planned processes have to be fully implemented. Printing must be done, logistics must be handled, and the necessary mobilisation must be carried out. The biggest challenge INEC has consistently faced is logistics.”

According to him, late disbursement of funds creates room for undue influence and compromises the integrity of the electoral process.

The university don cautioned against any attempt to delay funding for the electoral commission, insisting that such actions do not serve the interest of Nigeria’s democracy.

“When you don’t mobilise funding early and people who should have got funding early did not, and politicians have the opportunity of giving it to them, what will happen? You are exposing the process to unimaginable dangers.

“Anyone trying to delay INEC funding at this time does not mean well for the electoral process,” he said.

‘INEC financially on track, 2027 poll preparations ongoing’

Responding to the concerns, the leadership of INEC maintained that there was no cause for panic. A top official of the commission, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said funding for general elections follows a phased release pattern rather than a one-off disbursement.

He said, “When it comes to funding an exercise as massive as the 2027 general elections, the process is always handled in structured, planned phases rather than all at once. We have a solid, ongoing relationship with the Federal Government regarding our budget, and I can tell you that the government has been completely supportive and committed to making sure our timelines are met.

“As a rule, we don’t discuss the details of our financial transactions or release schedule in the media. What is most important for the public to know is that INEC is financially on track. Our preparations—from upgrading election technology to procuring materials—are fully moving forward on schedule without any hitches.”

The exchange comes as political parties, election observers and civil society organisations intensify calls for early preparations to avoid the logistical shortcomings that marred previous elections, and strengthen public confidence in the 2027 electoral process.

Although INEC insists it remains within the timeframe stipulated by the Electoral Act, analysts say the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the commission can sustain its procurement schedule, technology upgrades and other critical pre-election activities needed to deliver a credible nationwide poll.

The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly campaigns will commence on September 9, 2026.