The Federal Government has proposed N135.22 billion in the 2026 budget for “Electoral Adjudication and Post Election Provision,” signalling anticipated spending on legal disputes and obligations linked to the 2027 general elections.
The allocation, contained in the House of Representatives order paper on the 2026 Appropriation Bill, is listed under Service-Wide Votes — a centrally managed fund used to finance obligations not tied to a specific ministry, department, or agency.
Budget details show the provision falls within Consolidated Revenue Fund charges, which total N3.70 trillion, with the electoral adjudication line accounting for about 3.65 per cent of that segment.
The proposal comes alongside a statutory transfer of N1.01 trillion to the Independent National Electoral Commission for electoral activities. Earlier, INEC informed lawmakers it required N873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections and N171 billion for its 2026 operations.
The new allocation has drawn reactions from opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, which called for clarity on the rationale and transparency of the fund.
Party spokespersons said the provision raises concerns about anticipated post-election disputes and urged authorities to prioritise credible polls to reduce litigation.
Officials have yet to provide further breakdowns of how the proposed funds would be utilised.
