By Oluwakemi Kindness
The House of Representatives on Wednesday directed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to explain how the commission plans to ensure that insecurity does not disenfranchise voters in the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan is expected to appear before the House Committee on Electoral Matters within seven legislative days to brief lawmakers on preparations for the polls, including voter registration, election logistics, technology deployment, funding and security arrangements.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Minority Whip, Mansur Soro, and the Deputy Minority Leader, Abdulsamad Dasuki, during Wednesday’s plenary.
Lawmakers also want INEC to address complaints about registration centres, including inadequate equipment and personnel, network failures and long waiting times. They warned that the challenges could particularly affect first-time voters, rural residents, students, workers and persons with disabilities.
Presenting the motion, Soro said the commission’s preparedness would determine the credibility of the elections, stressing the need to address gaps in registration, logistics, voter education and security planning.
Dasuki expressed concern that insecurity could prevent residents of some communities from reaching polling units to vote.
“This is the very first time we are going into an election with 11 months of security concerns,” he said.
He disclosed that lawmakers had sponsored about 255 motions on insecurity and called on INEC to explain how it would conduct elections in areas affected by violence.
The House also wants the commission to account for its budgetary allocations, funds released and outstanding payments, as well as explain how funding gaps could affect preparations.
The sponsors initially proposed that Amupitan address the entire House, but Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu argued that the engagement should be handled by the Committee on Electoral Matters.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas supported the committee-level approach, directing that the date of the meeting be publicised to allow other interested lawmakers to participate.
