PAACA Refutes Costly Election Claims, Says Nigeria Spends Just $8 Per Voter

The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has debunked claims that Nigeria’s elections are among the world’s costliest, revealing that the country spends approximately $8 per voter, making its polls one of the least expensive in West Africa. The clarification was made to counter widespread misconceptions about electoral costs in Nigeria.Speaking at a one-day town hall meeting in Sokoto, organized with support from the MacArthur Foundation to sensitize stakeholders on electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections, PAACA’s Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, cited data from the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions. He noted that Nigeria’s election costs are significantly lower than those of many neighboring countries, urging stakeholders to rely on evidence-based discussions and study electoral laws to avoid misinformation.The meeting, attended by representatives from security agencies, media, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders, focused on key reforms introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Sokoto State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Yusuf Garba, represented by Abdullahi Sale Dawa, highlighted lessons from the 2023 elections, including advancements in voter education, technology, and stakeholder engagement. He emphasized that building a credible electoral system requires collective efforts from political actors, civil society, media, judiciary, security agencies, and voters.In a separate development, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to enabling Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the 2027 general elections. Speaking at a town hall meeting themed “Will Nigeria’s Diaspora be Silenced Again in 2027,” organized by News Central TV, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Capacity Development, Sadiq Rabiu, stressed the administration’s focus on diaspora involvement in governance, investment, and national development. “The Nigerian diaspora is not a fringe community... You are one of Nigeria’s greatest assets,” Rabiu said, highlighting their contributions as doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, and scholars worldwide.

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