Group Warns Delay in Release of Funding to INEC May Hinder Anambra Guber, Other By-elections

•Electoral body says partnership with EU, other stakeholders has helped consolidate electoral, democratic process in Nigeria

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa (PAACA) has warned that delay in the release of budgetary provisions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2025 fiscal year may hinder the conduct of the Anambra governorship election, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections, as well as National Assembly and State Assembly elections.

PAACA’s Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, gave the warning in a statement yesterday, just as he threw his weight behind the proposed N126 billion budget by the electoral body.

The warning by PAACA came same day INEC said its partnership with the European Union and other stakeholders has helped to consolidate the electoral and democratic process in Nigeria.

INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this yesterday, in Abuja, during the maiden visit by the new European Union ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot.

Speaking further, Nwagwu said: “Delays in fund disbursement undermine election preparedness, leading to rushed processes, operational and logistics bottlenecks.

“Early release of funds will empower INEC to carry out voter registration, rehabilitate its facilities, and ensure adequate preparation for upcoming off-cycle elections. We don’t have to wait to blame INEC, if we fail to prepare early, the consequences are always there waiting.”

He added that the proposed N126 billion budget reflects the reality of electoral management in Nigeria, including funding for off-cycle elections, voter registration, and the replacement of damaged materials.

The group estimated that the electoral body needs substantial resources to conduct 12 off-cycle elections, including the Anambra governorship and FCT area council election this 2025.

Nwagwu added: “The challenge is when people look at the budget, what they see is the figure. However, what they fail to see is that the budget has four components – personnel cost, overhead, electoral expenditure, and capital projects.

“INEC currently has 14,786 career staff scattered in all INEC offices in the 774 local government areas across the country. The Commission also has 51 political appointees which include National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC).

“Now, if we take into consideration the recent minimum wage increment announced by the Federal government and its consequential adjustment in line with the NSIWC Circular, you can imagine how much of the budget will go into payment of salaries.”

Nwagwu stressed that the personnel cost has already taken N85 billion of the budget. 

He added: “Also, many Nigerians have misunderstood that 2025 is not an election year. Contrary to that, INEC has 12 off-cycle elections, the Anambra governorship, and FCT area council election this 2025. These require significant financial resources for preparation and execution.

“Besides, INEC is responsible for more than just elections every four years. From voter registration and maintenance of polling units to constituency delimitation and political party regulation, the Commission’s activities are ongoing.”

Nwagwu explained that the current inflation in the country has affected the cost of running and managing elections

He, however, urged the federal government to prioritise the early release of funds to enable INEC plan and execute electoral activities seamlessly, especially with the Anambra governorship elections.

Meanwhile, INEC has said that its partnership with the European Union and other stakeholders has helped to consolidate the electoral and democratic process in Nigeria.

Yakubu disclosed this during the maiden visit by the new EU ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot.

He said: “For several years, particularly since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, EU’s partnership with the Commission and other stakeholders has helped to consolidate the electoral and democratic process in Nigeria.

“I would like to seize this opportunity to clarify a matter over which there is some misunderstanding in certain quarters.

“For the record, the Commission does not receive direct funding and we do not have an account into which donor funds are warehoused.

“The EU and other development partners provide indirect support in areas such as the publication of reports, retreats, engagement with stakeholders, as well as consultancy and technical support services in various areas, through the implementing partners selected and appointed by them.”

Yakubu noted that their support did not involve any direct funding of core electoral activities of the Commission such as voter registration, production of PVCs, training and remuneration of ad hoc staff, electoral logistics, and the procurement of sensitive materials, including election technology.

He maintained that these activities remained the sovereign responsibility of the federal government of Nigeria.

Yakubu added: “There has been incremental improvement in our electoral process over the last six electoral cycles. However, we also appreciate that a lot of work lies ahead.

“Since the 2023 general election, the Commission has received reports from many of the 206 national and foreign groups and international organisations accredited to observe the elections, including the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) which made a total of 23 recommendations of which eight require action by the Commission and 15 by the executive, judiciary and legislative arms of government as well as other stakeholders such as civil society organisations, the media, faith-based organisations and political parties.”

On his part, Mignot said the cooperation between the EU and INEC was based on respect for each other’s sovereignty.

According to him, “We are not here to teach lessons or to dictate what you have to do, just to bring some of our experience, learn from you, and bring some expertise.

“And we are not here to meddle into the internal political life of Nigeria. So political neutrality is always also at the core of our communication.

“We are in the middle of a project of support to democracy and governance in Nigeria with the 19 million euros and more cooperation we need, I think.”