Action Aid Nigeria (AAN) has decried the Federal Government’s decision to earmark ₦135.22 billion for post-election litigation ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying it is a bad signal for the country’s electoral process and democratic norms.
The Humanitarian organisation, through an official statement signed by its Country Director, Dr Andrew Memedu, condemned it and also described it as a troubling admission that Nigeria’s electoral process is being designed to fail before it even begins.
ActionAid Nigeria noted that any country that wants to develop and wax strong would rather work towards achieving a seamless and transparent electoral system and not budget humongous public funds to defend the outcome of elections.
It further called on Nigeria’s government to invest more public funds in making the system work for the good of all, rather than focusing on how to waste resources on avoidable litigation.
ActionAid Nigeria also urged President Bola Tinubu to decline assent to the budget bill, insisting that the excess funds should be reallocated to critical areas such as education, health, and strengthening electoral systems before the election, to ensure that litigation is adequately funded without undermining citizens’ welfare or placing unnecessary burdens on the judiciary.
It also noted that “ this allocation stands in absolute and unjustifiable contrast to previous election cycles. According to INEC’s own Election Project Plan, the commission allocated approximately ₦2.104 billion in 2022 under its litigation and prosecution budget, and ₦3.087 billion in 2023 to defend post-2023 general election cases.
“The sudden jump to ₦135 billion is unprecedented and raises serious concerns about priorities, planning, and accountability within Nigeria’s electoral system”.
“What we are seeing is a clear case of choosing to manage crises instead of preventing them. At the centre of this failure is the handling of Nigeria’s electoral legal framework.
“The Electoral Act 2022, which governs how elections are conducted, had shown clear weaknesses during the 2023 elections, particularly around the lack of certainty in the electronic transmission of results, and this lacuna should have been addressed through the electoral amendment opportunity, which was lost in the Electoral Act 2026 review process.
“We will recall that ActionAid Nigeria, alongside the Situation Room, IJAP, MOT!ON, and other civil society organisations and concerned Nigerians, raised concerns around the need for INEC and the government to demonstrate certainty, transparency, and accountability in our electoral process.
“ And one of the most widely supported recommendations was to make the electronic transmission of results mandatory and real-time.
“Such a provision would have ensured that results from polling units are transmitted immediately after verification, reducing human interference, limiting opportunities for manipulation during collation, and strengthening public trust.
“These were practical, evidence-based solutions aimed at reducing disputes and restoring public confidence in our elections. The decision to ignore these recommendations and proceed with a legal framework that still allows ambiguity and opacity has consequences, and what we are seeing now is the result.”
“Beyond its implications for democracy, the ₦135 billion allocation represents a significant misplacement of national priorities. Nigerians are grappling with challenges in healthcare, insecurity, education, and basic services. Committing such funds to anticipated legal disputes raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to citizens’ welfare.”
