RismadarVoice Reporters, July 24, 2026
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the electoral body cannot achieve true independence without financial autonomy, warning that reliance on the conventional budgetary process weakens its operational independence and could affect preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation of Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023), a book authored by THISDAY Managing Director, Eniola Bello, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
He argued that although the Constitution provides for INEC’s funding through the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the commission’s continued dependence on the annual appropriation process limits its ability to function independently.
“Can INEC truly be independent without financial autonomy? If we are serious about strengthening our institutions and conducting free, fair and credible elections, then financial autonomy is essential,” Amupitan said.
According to him, genuine independence remains difficult as long as the commission must rely on budgetary approvals from other government institutions.
“The Constitution places INEC’s funding on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and many believe that is sufficient. However, experience has shown that as long as INEC remains subject to the normal appropriation process and depends on budgetary approvals by other institutions, genuine financial independence remains difficult,” he added.
The INEC chairman noted that the commission’s responsibilities extend beyond conducting elections, including voter registration, political party registration and monitoring, as well as maintaining the national voter register.
He said these responsibilities justify the need for greater financial and operational autonomy to improve efficiency and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
Amupitan also stressed that credible elections require the collective efforts of all democratic institutions, including political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and the electorate.
“When we talk about strengthening institutions, there are several institutions involved in the conduct of elections. Most times, people think only of INEC, but beyond INEC, we also have the media, the security agencies, civil society organisations and, indeed, the Nigerian people. The health of our democracy is reflected in the strength of this wider institutional framework,” he said.
He recalled that international democratic principles recognise that sustaining democracy is a shared responsibility between governments, political actors and citizens.
“Therefore, if we truly want the 2027 elections to be free, fair, credible and peaceful, all these institutions must work together,” he stated.
On concerns over the appointment of INEC’s leadership, Amupitan said the Constitution already provides safeguards by requiring the President to appoint the commission’s chairman and national commissioners in consultation with the Council of State and subject to Senate confirmation.
He, however, argued that the major challenge often lies in the implementation of existing laws rather than the legal framework itself.
“Sometimes, however, the issue is not the law itself but those who operate it,” he said, echoing the views of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, that Nigeria’s democratic challenges stem more from the failure to faithfully implement the Constitution and Electoral Act than from deficiencies in the laws.
Amupitan also described Bello’s two-volume publication as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s democratic discourse, noting that it chronicles the country’s political journey from the return to democratic rule in 1999 to 2023 and offers valuable lessons ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Every election teaches us lessons, and every electoral cycle provides an opportunity to improve on the last,” he added.
