High cost of elections: How Nigeria spent N981.5bn on 7 polls in 24 years

•Holds 1 of the astir costly balloting successful the globe

•More funds for elections gulp, little credible the results become

By Clifford Ndujihe, Politics Editor

With 7 elections successful 24 years, the longest spell of civilian regularisation since independency successful 1960, Nigeria is gradually emerging arsenic a ideology hub successful Africa. However, the precocious outgo of conducting elections, 1 of the astir costly successful the world, and rising disputes and petitions arsenic much funds are allocated, permission a sour taste.

Since Nigeria returned to civilian regularisation successful 1999, the state has conducted six modulation elections with the sum of N949.47bn oregon $4.023bn.

In 1999, the outgoing subject regime, according to reports, spent N32bn, astir $1.46bn to behaviour the 1998/1999 elections. In dollar terms, the 1999 polls stay the astir costly adjacent though they were the slightest disputed.

Put together, the 7 elections outgo Nigeria a staggering N981.47bn oregon $5.483bn.

Apart from the 1999 polls, the costs of conducting the exercises person been rising to the grade that Nigeria’s elections person panned retired arsenic the astir costly successful Africa and 1 of the astir costly successful the world.

The outgo of the assorted polls successful Naira and Dollar fixed Nigeria’s authoritative speech rates astatine the clip of conducts are arsenic follows: 1999 -N32bn ($1.46bn); 2003- N55.172bn ($483.965m); 2007- N74.2bn ($618.333m); 2011- N99.7bn ($664.667m); 2015-N122.9bn ($646.842m); 2019-N242.2bn ($794.098m); and 2023-N355.298bn (815.475m).

Giving the trend, determination are speculations that the 2027 polls whitethorn outgo the state astir N700bn. For the 2025 fiscal year, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC requested ¦ 126/ cardinal for its operations, which see mentation for the 2027 polls. The Federal Government’s archetypal connection was ¦ 40bn, which INEC said was insufficient, particularly considering higher minimum wages, unit costs, the request for continuous elector registration, CVR, that is ongoing, replacement of voting machines (BVAS), and damaged instrumentality among others. The National Assembly accrued the fig to ¦ 140/ cardinal successful the 2025 approved budget.

In spite of the immense costs, the prime of successive polls continues to dwindle and attracting much petitions specified that the 2023 wide polls conducted with N355.298bn ($815.465m) had 1,996 petitions.

From bully to bad

It was not similar this astatine the opening of the Fourth Republic successful 1999. Elections were considered to beryllium comparatively escaped and just backmost then.

Most losers took their losses successful bully religion and returned to the drafting committee to hole for the adjacent election.

For instance, Chief Olu Falae, the Alliance for Democratic Party, AD, and All People’s Party, APP, associated statesmanlike candidate, did not situation the triumph of General Olusegun Obasanjo of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, successful tribunal adjacent though helium had immoderate misgivings successful 1999.

However, things started taking a atrocious signifier successful 2003 erstwhile predetermination riggers got bolder successful their manipulation enterprise. This led to the filing of 560 petitions that year.

Number of petitions successful consequent wide predetermination cycles is arsenic follows: 2007 had 1290 petitions; 2011 (732); 2015 (560); 2019 (1,697); and 2023 (1,996).

More predetermination funds, much petitions

Year – Petitions/Cost

1999 – 2 (N32bn oregon $1.46bn)

2003 – 560 (N55.172bn oregon $483.965m)

2007 —1290 (N74.2bn oregon $618.333m)

2011 – 732 (N99.7bn oregon $664.667m)

2015 – 560 (N122.9bn oregon $646.842m)

2019 —1,697 (N242.2bn oregon $794.098m)

2023 – 1,996 (N355.298bn oregon $815.465m)

Total – 6,840 (N981.47bn oregon $5.483bn)

Nigeria’s fixed Naira/dollar speech rates

1999 —21.89

2003 —114

2007 — 120

2011 —150

2015 —190.16

2019 —305

2023— 435.7

Most costly polls

Compared to different countries, Nigeria’s polls, according to Election Network, an planetary predetermination perceiver group, were the astir costly successful Africa and 1 of the astir costly successful the globe.

Indeed, Pakistan that has an estimated colonisation of 253 cardinal compared to Nigeria’s 238 million, conducted her 2024 nationalist elections wit...