Opposition Questions ₦135 Billion Post-Election Budget

The opposition parties, including the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside civil society organizations, have raised concerns regarding the Nigerian federal government's proposed ₦135 billion budget for post-election litigation in its 2026 budget. They argue that this substantial allocation suggests a lack of transparency in the electoral process, indicating that the electoral system may not be credible.

Ememobong, the ADC's National Public Secretary, emphasized the need for extensive legal funding, noting that the electoral body already has internal legal resources. Critics, including Prof. Pat Utomi and human rights lawyer Femi Falana, have described the proposed budget as excessive and unjustifiable, especially since INEC's legal department typically incurs lower costs for legal briefs.

Falana pointed out that recent legal developments have further reduced the need for such high expenditures on electoral litigation, raising serious concerns about the allocation's justification.