Opposition, CSOs Question FG’s ₦135 Billion Post-Election Litigation Budget

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Opposition parties and civil society stakeholders have raised concerns over the proposed ₦135.22 billion allocation for electoral adjudication and post-election matters in the Federal Government’s 2026 budget, questioning its transparency and justification.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside legal and civil society voices, warned that the provision could indicate expectations of widespread electoral disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the allocation raises concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.

“It means that INEC itself is anticipating that it will not do well and that people will not accept the outcome of the results,” he said.

Ememobong argued that a transparent electoral process would significantly reduce post-election litigation, noting that opacity in elections has historically driven disputes.

He also questioned the need for such extensive legal funding, stating that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) already has internal legal capacity.

“My advice is that the APC-led Federal Government, INEC, and everyone involved in the 2027 elections should ensure we protect the country and democracy before partisanship,” he added.

Similarly, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, acknowledged that preparing for election-related litigation is normal but described the scale of the allocation as excessive.

According to him, credible elections should naturally result in fewer legal disputes, raising questions about accountability and the expected volume of cases.

Political economist Pat Utomi also criticised the provision, arguing that elections are contested by candidates, not the Federal Government.

“It is not the Federal Government that goes to elections, it is the individual candidates, so why should the Federal Government have a budget for it?” he asked.

Utomi suggested that if the provision is intended for INEC, it should be included within the commission’s own budget rather than under central government expenditure.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana described the allocation as excessive and unjustifiable, noting that INEC already maintains a legal department across its offices.

He added that the commission typically spends far less on election-related litigation, citing the 2023 elections where it was involved in fewer than 3,500 cases.

Falana further stated that recent legal reforms limiting court involvement in internal party affairs are expected to reduce pre-election disputes.

“Altogether, INEC may not spend up to ₦20 billion on election legal battles,” he said.

Stakeholders maintained that while provisions for post-election disputes are necessary, the size of the proposed allocation raises concerns about fiscal responsibility and the credibility of the electoral process ahead of 2027.