Amupitan: Adequate Funding Critical to the Security and Success of 2027 General Poll
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has said adequate funding is critical to providing the security and logistics required for successful conduct
Adedayo Akinwale reported from Abuja that INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan emphasized the critical importance of adequate funding for the 2027 general election. Amupitan, speaking in Owerri at the 6th Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, highlighted the need for sufficient resources to deploy personnel and electoral materials across various election sites.
The INEC chief stated that while the commission's funding is constitutionally allocated, the scale of its responsibilities necessitates continuous financial support to ensure effective electoral operations. Amupitan stressed that security is an integral part of the electoral process, as the commission has statutory powers to request security agency deployment for elections.
He noted that financial constraints can sometimes impede the implementation of desired security measures, and that the system allocates funds based on what is available and affordable. Amupitan emphasized that INEC's responsibilities extend beyond presidential and National Assembly elections, encompassing governorship and state House of Assembly elections, voter registration, and political party registration.
He stressed that voter registration is crucial for the credibility of elections, as an inaccurate or outdated voters' register could undermine the inclusiveness of the electoral process. Amupitan pointed out that election expenditure, including security-related costs, should be approached as a collective national responsibility due to the commission's role in elections affecting all three tiers of government.
He also highlighted the importance of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in coordinating election security among relevant agencies. Amupitan described ICCES as a platform that brings INEC and security and government agencies together to coordinate election security at federal, state, and local levels.
He stressed the need for stronger coordination among agencies ahead of the 2027 polls, emphasizing the police's lead role in election security.
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