Commission Prosecutes 774 Electoral Offenders from 2023 Elections
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has defended the commission’s proposed ₦126 billion budget for 2025, clarifying that ₦85 billion is dedicated to personnel costs while the rest will cover electoral activities.
Addressing the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters at the National Assembly, Yakubu emphasized that the requested budget is crucial for the commission’s operations in 2025 and the early groundwork for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Budget Faces Public Scrutiny
Despite the justification, the budget request has sparked public concern, with many questioning the rationale for such a substantial amount in a non-election year. Speaking at a consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja, Yakubu explained that the commission’s annual budget for 2024 and 2025 remains at ₦40 billion, despite rising electoral costs. He stressed that the entire ₦126 billion is not solely for elections.
“Our budget for 2024 is ₦40 billion, the same as in 2025. Last year, we managed with limited resources, which affected key activities, including the resumption of continuous voter registration. We simply couldn’t resume it.”
Yakubu further disclosed that the 15-page budget breakdown submitted to the National Assembly outlines the allocation in detail.
Personnel Costs and Workforce Expansion
Yakubu clarified that INEC employs approximately 15,000 permanent staff but requires nearly one million ad hoc workers during major elections. He broke down the staffing structure, explaining that:
- Nigeria has 177,000 polling units, each requiring at least four officials.
- 774 local government areas have operational INEC offices, with an estimated 9,280 staff members deployed at the local level.
- INEC also maintains state offices, zonal offices, election material storage facilities, and its headquarters.
“A significant portion of the budget goes into salaries. It’s not feasible to run 177,000 polling units with just 15,000 permanent staff.”
774 Electoral Offenders Face Prosecution
In addition to budget discussions, Yakubu revealed that 774 electoral offenders from the 2023 general elections are currently being prosecuted nationwide. He cited the recent conviction of a Returning Officer in Akwa Ibom State, which resulted from a case dating back to the 2019 general election.
Yakubu acknowledged that electoral offences take years to prosecute, as they are handled by Magistrate and State High Courts, which also oversee various other cases. He noted that INEC is collaborating with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite legal actions.
“So far, successful prosecutions have been recorded in Kebbi and Kogi states. Similarly, our partnership with the EFCC on vote-buying has yielded results in Lagos, Kwara, and Gombe states.”
Challenges in Electoral Offence Prosecution
Yakubu highlighted that unlike post-election petitions handled by tribunals with strict timeframes, electoral offences are not time-bound, leading to prolonged trials. He emphasized the need for legal reforms to ensure speedy justice for electoral crimes.
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