Amupitan Seeks Direct Funding for INEC From Federation Account to Guarantee Autonomy

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has called for INEC to be funded directly from the Federation Account, arguing that such a move would strengthen the commission’s independence and improve the credibility of elections in Nigeria.

Amupitan made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023), a two-volume book authored by ThisDay Managing Director, Eniola Bello.

He said the current funding arrangement, despite placing INEC on the first-line charge under the Constitution, does not provide genuine financial autonomy because the commission still depends on the annual budgetary process and the Federal Government’s envelope budgeting system.

According to him, the existing process forces the electoral body to seek legislative appropriations before carrying out its responsibilities, a situation he described as inefficient and capable of undermining the commission’s independence.

“Experience over the years has shown that as long as INEC is still subject to the normal envelope system and the processes of appropriation, having to go to the National Assembly, it is very difficult to operate in such a situation without wasting your time,” he said.

Amupitan noted that INEC’s constitutional responsibilities extend beyond organising presidential and National Assembly elections, stressing that the commission also conducts governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, registers and regulates political parties, and maintains the national register of voters.

He argued that governorship and state assembly elections are often more expensive to conduct than presidential polls, making the current funding structure unsustainable.

“It is for this reason we feel that although the Constitution tried to place INEC on the first-line charge, it is not strong enough. INEC should come as part of the Federation Account so that we can have seamless operations and what we call operational efficiency,” he added.

The INEC chairman also advocated further amendments to the Electoral Act to strengthen the commission’s oversight of political parties.

He proposed that INEC be given greater authority to ensure political parties comply with their constitutions, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Electoral Act.

Amupitan said the commission is considering introducing a mediation mechanism to resolve internal party disputes within three months, while recommending that all political party-related cases be concluded at least one year before general elections to reduce pre-election litigation and prevent last-minute legal disputes from disrupting the electoral process.