Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has opposed a proposal to invite the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to address the entire House during plenary, arguing that the commission’s recent public briefing and the relevant parliamentary committee provide appropriate channels for addressing concerns about preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Kalu expressed his position during Wednesday’s plenary on October 28, 2026, while lawmakers considered a motion sponsored by the House Minority Whip, Mansur Soro, and Deputy Minority Leader, Abdulsamad Dasuki. The lawmakers had sought a detailed briefing from the INEC chairman on the commission’s readiness for the forthcoming elections.
The deputy speaker acknowledged the importance of parliamentary oversight but argued that inviting Amupitan before the full House could undermine the responsibilities of the Committee on Electoral Matters, which is mandated to oversee the commission’s activities.
He maintained that INEC had recently addressed the public on its preparations and existing challenges. According to Kalu, lawmakers should allow the relevant committee to examine outstanding concerns rather than require the commission’s chairman to appear before the entire House shortly after his public presentation.
Kalu proposed amending the motion to direct the INEC chairman to meet with the committee instead. He also expressed concern that a full plenary appearance could create unnecessary anxiety and affect public confidence in the electoral process at a critical stage of preparations.
The proposal was supported by the House leadership. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas clarified that lawmakers were not opposed to inviting Amupitan but wanted the engagement to take place through the appropriate committee. He directed that the meeting date should be made public so interested lawmakers could attend and ask questions.
Following the debate, the House referred the matter to the Committee on Electoral Matters. The committee is expected to invite the INEC chairman within seven legislative days to provide details about the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The proposed briefing is expected to cover continuous voter registration, the production and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, election logistics, the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, as well as the recruitment and training of electoral personnel.
Lawmakers also want explanations about electoral security, the identification of areas facing operational challenges and the commission’s financial position, including budgetary allocations, funds released and outstanding payments that could affect its preparations.
The sponsors of the motion argued that early legislative scrutiny was necessary to identify possible gaps before the elections. They raised concerns about insecurity and the risk that some Nigerians could be prevented from participating in the electoral process if logistical and operational challenges were not addressed promptly.
The House’s decision means that the proposed oversight exercise will proceed through the relevant committee rather than through a full plenary session. The committee’s engagement with INEC is expected to give lawmakers an opportunity to examine the commission’s plans and seek answers to questions about its readiness.
As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, attention will focus on the issues raised during the committee briefing and any steps taken to address concerns about voter registration, election technology, logistics, security and funding. The effectiveness of these preparations will be important to ensuring that eligible Nigerians can participate in the electoral process.
Comments
Post a Comment