Political parties, civil society groups, and election experts have raised serious concerns over the Federal Government’s proposed N135.22 billion allocation in the 2026 budget for “Electoral Adjudication and Post-Election Provision,” warning that the move suggests an expectation of legal disputes following the 2027 general elections.
The provision, listed in the House of Representatives Order Paper for March 31, 2026, falls under Service-Wide Votes, a centrally managed pool of funds designed to cover obligations that are not directly tied to any ministry, department, or agency.
Although Service-Wide Votes are typically reserved for unforeseen national expenditures, critics argue that such a substantial allocation for post-election litigation raises pressing questions about transparency, accountability, and Nigeria’s electoral preparedness.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were among the first to voice objections. PDP National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong told Punch Newspaper that the allocation points to a lack of confidence in the electoral process. “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. He stressed that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ensures transparency in its operations, post-election litigation could be significantly reduced.
Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC National Publicity Secretary, acknowledged that planning for post-election disputes is part of the electoral process, but questioned the scale of the N135 billion allocation. “If elections are free and transparent, litigation should be minimal,” he said, adding that such a high budget raises accountability concerns and appears to anticipate extensive court battles.
The concerns have also drawn attention from analysts and legal experts. Prof. Pat Utomi, a prominent political economist, questioned why the Federal Government is budgeting for elections at all, noting that the responsibility for electoral contests lies with candidates, not the government. “It is not the Federal Government that goes to elections; it is the individual candidates. So why should the Federal Government have a budget for it?” he asked, insisting that any funding for election litigation should come from INEC’s budget.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) described the proposed allocation as “excessive and unjustifiable.” He pointed out that INEC already has legal departments across all 36 states that handle most election-related cases. Citing the 2023 elections, he noted that the commission was involved in fewer than 3,500 pre-election cases, petitions, and appeals.
With recent legal reforms limiting courts’ jurisdiction over internal party matters, Falana argued that the volume of potential litigation should decrease further. He estimated that total legal spending for elections should not exceed N20 billion, far less than the N135 billion proposed.
The post-election litigation provision forms part of the broader Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) charges, which total N3.70 trillion, making the allocation approximately 3.65 percent of this segment. It comes alongside a N1.01 trillion statutory transfer to INEC—the largest single statutory transfer in the 2026 budget—underscoring the commission’s financial autonomy to carry out constitutionally mandated functions.
INEC has requested N873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections, a significant increase from the N313.4 billion released for the 2023 polls. The commission also requested N171 billion for its 2026 operations, reflecting anticipated fiscal pressures as Nigeria prepares for its next national elections.
Stakeholders emphasised that attention should be focused on strengthening the credibility and integrity of elections rather than preparing for expected legal disputes. Ememobong urged authorities to prioritise governance and transparency, noting that historical weaknesses in institutions and electoral conduct have repeatedly undermined public trust.
“My advice is that the APC-led Federal Government, INEC, and everyone involved in the 2027 elections should take a step back to ensure we protect the country and democracy before talking about elections and partisanship,” he said.
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