The Federal Government of Nigeria has proposed N135.22bn in the 2026 budget for what it described as “electoral adjudication and post-election provision,” signalling a fresh multi-billion-naira commitment to handling disputes and obligations arising from elections.
DDM gathered that the provision, contained in the appropriation document presented to the National Assembly of Nigeria, was captured under Service-Wide Votes, a centrally managed pool used to fund obligations not tied to any specific ministry, department or agency.
The allocation forms part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund charges, which total about N3.70tn, with the election-related provision accounting for roughly 3.65 per cent of that segment.
The move comes alongside a larger N1.01tn statutory transfer to the Independent National Electoral Commission, which remains the biggest beneficiary in that category. The commission had earlier indicated it would require N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections and an additional N171bn for its 2026 operations, marking a sharp increase from the N313.4bn spent on the 2023 polls.
However, the new provision has sparked criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who questioned its transparency and necessity.
The People’s Democratic Party argued that the allocation suggests the electoral body may already be anticipating widespread disputes, raising concerns about the credibility of the 2027 elections.
Its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, said greater transparency in the electoral process would significantly reduce post-election litigation.
The African Democratic Congress also expressed reservations, with its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, describing the amount as excessive despite acknowledging that it is normal for the electoral body to prepare for legal challenges.
He questioned the scale of cases being anticipated if elections are expected to be credible.
Political economist Pat Utomi faulted the rationale behind the provision, arguing that elections are contested by candidates, not the government, and that any such funding should be reflected within the electoral commission’s own budget.
He described Nigeria’s budget process as flawed.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also criticised the proposed spending, calling it excessive and unjustifiable.
He noted that the electoral commission already has an in-house legal department and rarely pays more than N3m per case, adding that even in 2023, the total number of cases involving the commission was relatively limited.
According to him, total legal expenses for election disputes may not exceed N20bn.
Civil society organisations echoed similar concerns.
The Executive Director of #FixPolitics Africa, Anthony Ubani, warned that budgeting such a large amount for post-election litigation reflects deeper problems in the electoral system, suggesting that elections are increasingly expected to be contested rather than accepted.
He argued that the trend undermines public confidence and shifts the real contest from the ballot box to the courts.
Similarly, the head of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, said the allocation could only be justified if it strictly covers legal battles involving the electoral commission.
He warned that anything beyond that could amount to duplication, especially given the substantial funds already allocated to the commission.
The development has intensified debate over the cost and credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process, with critics urging reforms that prioritise transparency and reduce reliance on post-election litigation.
