The Federal Government has set aside N135.22 billion in the 2026 budget to handle legal disputes from the 2027 general elections.
The move has sparked debate over electoral credibility and government spending priorities.
The government listed the fund as “Electoral Adjudication and Post-Election Provision.”
It placed the allocation under Service-Wide Votes. This category covers expenses not assigned to any specific ministry or agency.
Details from the 2026 Appropriation Bill show that the government expects significant post-election litigation. The fund will cover legal settlements and administrative costs linked to the elections.
The provision is part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund charges, which total N3.70 trillion.
The N135.22 billion allocation accounts for about 3.65 percent of that segment.
The government also proposed N1.01 trillion as a statutory transfer to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to support preparations for the 2027 polls.
Opposition parties and civil society groups have criticized the allocation.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) questioned both the size and purpose of the fund. They warned that it suggests the government expects widespread electoral disputes.
Political economist Pat Utomi also rejected the provision. He argued that candidates—not the government—contest elections, so public funds should not cover such costs.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana described the figure as excessive. He noted that past election-related legal costs were much lower. He also warned that the allocation could duplicate responsibilities already handled by INEC.
Civil society organizations say the large budget for litigation reflects deeper problems in Nigeria’s electoral system.
They argue that elections are too often decided in court instead of at the ballot box.
The groups urged the government to focus on reforms. These include real-time result transmission and improved transparency.
They believe such measures will reduce disputes and rebuild public trust ahead of the 2027 elections.
