The Movement for the Rights of Arogbo-Ibe (MRAI) has strongly criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following comments by its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who stated that the N40 billion allocated for the 2025 budget is insufficient to meet the Commission’s operational needs. MRAI has described this statement as reckless and indicative of INEC’s failure to address the genuine needs of the Nigerian people.
In a statement issued by Hosea T. Ebikontei, the Coordinator of MRAI, and Bomi Stanley Proten, the organisation’s Secretary, MRAI expressed its disappointment over INEC’s demand for a budget increase. The group believes that the Commission’s call for more funds exacerbates growing concerns that INEC is prioritising its financial interests over the progress and well-being of Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Why i Rejects INEC Declared results – Ajayi
“The claim by INEC that N40 billion is inadequate for the 2025 electoral year is an insult to the Nigerian people,” said Hosea T. Ebikontei. “While we acknowledge that the electoral body requires adequate funding to carry out its operations, it is troubling that INEC continues to demonstrate fiscal mismanagement and inefficiency, which we believe only add to the high cost and poor outcomes of Nigeria’s elections.”
MRAI’s critique focuses on what it perceives as INEC’s failure to manage funds appropriately in previous years. The organisation contends that allocating more funds to INEC without addressing past mismanagement would only perpetuate further wasteful spending.
“In previous years, we have witnessed how funds intended for essential electoral processes, such as voter registration, election monitoring, and infrastructure development, have been misused,” remarked Bomi Stanley Proten, MRAI’s Secretary. “We are concerned that INEC’s request for an inflated budget is more about securing political gains than implementing meaningful electoral reforms. The Commission must be held accountable.”
MRAI argued that the focus of the Nigerian government and National Assembly should not be on increasing the electoral budget but rather on reforming the electoral system to make it more transparent, efficient, and cost-effective. The organisation also urged INEC to explore ways to reduce unnecessary elections and develop sustainable funding mechanisms for electoral processes.
READ ALSO: MRAI Coordinator Criticizes Former IYC Spokesperson’s Remarks on Governor Diri.
“Instead of pushing for more funding, INEC should focus on eliminating wasteful practices and reconsidering the structure of our elections,” Ebikontei said. “We cannot keep pouring billions into a system that continues to fail. What we need are systemic reforms, not simply more money for a system that is already broken.”
The Movement for the Rights of Arogbo-Ibe also highlighted the broader economic challenges faced by Nigerians, especially in the Niger Delta region, and stressed the need for the government to prioritise investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other sectors that directly benefit the people.
The group raised concerns over INEC’s failure to address past issues, such as the inadequate execution of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and unresolved problems from previous elections. MRAI believes that INEC’s lack of transparency and accountability in the use of funds has led to widespread dissatisfaction, particularly in marginalised areas like Arogbo-Ibe.
MRAI has called for an immediate investigation into the allocation and use of electoral funds to prevent the inefficiencies and mismanagement that have plagued past electoral processes from continuing.
“In an ideal world, INEC would use the N40 billion already allocated to improve the actual conduct of elections and make the electoral process more transparent, secure, and cost-effective. Instead, they are simply asking for more money,” Proten concluded. “As a nation, we need to move forward, but not by enabling this kind of fiscal irresponsibility.”
The group has also called on Nigerians to hold their representatives in the National Assembly accountable for approving additional funding for INEC without demanding substantial reforms and improvements in the Commission’s management and oversight.
“Until INEC proves that it can handle the funds at its disposal and demonstrates a genuine commitment to electoral reform, we will continue to oppose any increases in its budget that do not come with clear, actionable improvements in the electoral process,” Ebikontei stated.
As the debate over INEC’s budget allocation continues, MRAI remains resolute in its position, urging the National Assembly, the executive, and the Nigerian electorate to engage in a larger conversation about the future of Nigeria’s electoral system, with a focus on efficiency, accountability, and real reform.
