ActionAid Condemns N135bn Election Litigation Budget

ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has condemned the federal government’s decision to allocate N135.22 billion for post-election litigation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group called it a troubling indication that Nigeria’s electoral process is “being designed to fail.”

In a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Abuja, the organisation described the proposed allocation as a sharp and unjustifiable increase compared to previous election cycles.

It noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had allocated about N2.104 billion for litigation and prosecution in 2022, and N3.087 billion in 2023 to handle post-election cases.

According to AAN, the sudden jump to N135 billion is unprecedented and raises serious concerns about priorities, planning, and accountability within Nigeria’s electoral system.

The group warned that instead of addressing the root causes of electoral disputes, the government appears to be normalising them through public spending.

It added that such a large litigation budget would make elections more expensive, overburden the judiciary, slow down legal processes, and increase costs for the government, political parties, and citizens.

The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, criticised the approach, describing it as reactive rather than preventive.

Mamedu highlighted gaps in the Electoral Act 2022, particularly the lack of clarity around the electronic transmission of results, which contributed to disputes during the 2023 general elections.

He noted that efforts to address these issues during the Electoral Act 2026 review process were unsuccessful.

He further explained that civil society organisations had recommended mandatory, real-time electronic transmission of results to reduce human interference, curb manipulation, and build public trust in the electoral process.

According to him, failure to adopt these reforms has led to continued ambiguity, which fuels electoral disputes.

AAN also expressed concern that allocating such a significant amount to litigation reflects a governance approach that allows preventable problems to occur, only to be managed later at great public expense.

The organisation added that the N135 billion provision represents a misplacement of national priorities, especially as Nigerians continue to face challenges in healthcare, education, insecurity, and access to basic services.

ActionAid Nigeria, therefore, called on the President to decline assent to the proposed budget and to review the allocation.

While recognising that some funding for post-election litigation is necessary, the group described the proposed amount as excessive and disproportionate.

It urged the government to redirect excess funds to critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and strengthen the electoral system to prevent disputes, rather than spending heavily on resolving them after elections.