President Bola Tinubu has approved the allocation of N1 trillion to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of early preparations for the 2027 General Elections, signalling the Federal Government’s commitment to credible, transparent and technologically driven polls.

The allocation, which is contained in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and reflected in proposed budgetary provisions submitted to the National Assembly, is expected to be released in phases over the election cycle to support logistics, voter registration, election technology, personnel training and security coordination.

A senior government source told on Thursday in Abuja that the early funding strategy was designed to prevent last-minute bottlenecks that have historically affected election administration in the country.

“The President is determined to ensure that INEC is adequately funded well ahead of the 2027 elections. Early release of funds will allow the commission to plan effectively, deploy technology, and conduct credible elections without undue pressure,” the source said.

According to the source, the funds will cover the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, procurement and maintenance of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, election result transmission infrastructure, voter education, and logistics for elections across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

INEC officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the commission had been engaging relevant stakeholders on early preparations, including voter register cleanup, boundary delimitation reviews, and enhanced training for ad hoc and permanent staff.

Political analysts say the allocation represents one of the largest early election-related funding commitments in Nigeria’s democratic history and could help address longstanding challenges such as late procurement, inadequate training, and logistical failures on election days.

Reacting to the development, civil society organisations urged the government to ensure strict oversight and transparency in the utilisation of the funds.

“Early funding is commendable, but accountability is critical. Nigerians must be assured that every naira allocated to INEC is judiciously spent to strengthen electoral integrity,” said a spokesperson for a coalition of election observers.

The National Assembly is expected to scrutinise the allocation during its budget defence sessions, while lawmakers have reiterated their resolve to support reforms that will deepen democracy and public confidence in the electoral process.

Nigeria is scheduled to hold presidential, national and state elections in 2027, marking another major test of the country’s democratic institutions since the return to civilian rule in 1999.