By| Goodluck E.Adubazi | Abuja
ActionAid Nigeria has strongly condemned the Federal Government’s proposed allocation of ₦135.22 billion for post-election litigation ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing it as a troubling signal that Nigeria’s electoral process is being set up for failure.
In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, the organisation said the figure represents a dramatic and unjustifiable increase compared to previous election cycles. It cited data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which allocated about ₦2.104 billion for litigation in 2022 and ₦3.087 billion in 2023 following the last general elections.
The leap to ₦135 billion, ActionAid Nigeria said, raises serious concerns about government priorities, planning, and accountability within the electoral system.
The group warned that rather than addressing the root causes of electoral disputes, authorities appear to be institutionalising them through public spending. It added that such a large allocation could make elections excessively costly, overburden the judiciary, and slow down other legal processes while increasing expenses for political parties, institutions, and citizens.
While acknowledging that post-election disputes are a normal feature of democracy, the organisation stressed that many could be avoided through reforms to strengthen the Electoral Act.
Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, criticised what he described as a reactive approach to governance.
“What we are seeing is a clear case of choosing to manage crisis instead of preventing them,” Mamedu said.
“The Electoral Act 2022 exposed clear weaknesses during the 2023 elections, particularly around the uncertainty in electronic transmission of results—gaps that were not addressed in the 2026 review process.”
He noted that civil society organisations had widely recommended mandatory, real-time electronic transmission of results to reduce manipulation, enhance transparency, and build public trust.
According to him, the failure to adopt these reforms has contributed to the current situation.
ActionAid Nigeria further warned that the proposed litigation budget reflects a governance model that allows preventable problems to occur and then addresses them at significant public cost.
The organisation also questioned the government’s spending priorities, pointing to ongoing challenges in healthcare, education, insecurity, and basic services.
“Committing ₦135 billion to anticipated legal disputes raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to citizens’ welfare,” Mamedu added.
ActionAid Nigeria has called on the President to decline assent to the budget in its current form and review the allocation. It recommended that excess funds be redirected to critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and electoral system improvements to reduce disputes before they arise.
The group emphasised that while some funding for election-related litigation is necessary, the current proposal is excessive and disproportionate to past experience.
ActionAid Nigeria is a social justice organisation working to eradicate poverty and injustice. It is part of the global ActionAid Federation, operating in over 45 countries.
The statement was issued by Communications Coordinator Oluwakemi Akinremi-Segun, ActionAid Nigeria.
