Nigeria TV Info 

High Cost of Elections: Nigeria Spends ₦981.5bn on 7 Polls in 24 Years

Nigeria has expended an estimated ₦981.47 billion ($5.48 billion) conducting seven national elections since returning to democracy in 1999, making its polls among the most expensive in Africa and the world. The cost has risen sharply from ₦32bn in 1999 to ₦355.298bn in 2023, reflecting inflation, repeated nationwide voter registration drives, purchase of biometric technology, rising personnel allowances, logistics across difficult terrain, and the replacement of materials lost to violence and arson.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed it received ₦313.4bn out of the ₦355bn approved for the 2023 exercise, which introduced BVAS and electronic transmission kits. Yet, despite heavy spending, public confidence has not improved: petitions have soared from 2 in 1999 to nearly 1,996 in 2023, totaling 6,840 petitions across all polls.

Analysts argue that Nigeria’s electoral costs far exceed global averages without delivering cleaner results. Observers warn that unless reforms improve funding transparency, logistics, and material security, the 2027 general election could cost close to ₦700bn, further straining public finances while trust in outcomes continues to wane.