The House of Representatives has summoned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to brief its Committee on Electoral Matters on preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The directive requires the INEC chairman to appear before the committee within seven legislative days to address concerns over insecurity, election logistics, funding and the possible disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
The committee is expected to review progress in Continuous Voter Registration, the production and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, as well as the recruitment and training of electoral officials.
Lawmakers will also examine operational and security challenges that could affect the smooth conduct of the elections, alongside lessons from recent governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
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.
The lawmakers also want INEC to provide details of its budgetary allocations, funds released, outstanding disbursements and the impact of possible funding shortfalls on the implementation of the election timetable.
The sponsors had initially sought the chairman’s appearance before the entire House. However, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu opposed that proposal, maintaining that the matter should be handled by the committee constitutionally mandated to oversee the commission.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has alleged a plot to postpone the January 16, 2027 presidential election, warning against any attempt to use the reported Ebola incident as justification for changing the electoral timetable. The allegation has not been established as fact.
The Federal Government, through the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has said there is no plan to suspend election campaigns over the Ebola incident.
INEC’s published timetable schedules the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.
The All Progressives Congress commenced its nationwide campaign in Kaduna on October 24, while the ADC is scheduled to begin its campaign in Sokoto on October 31.
The House’s intervention is expected to provide lawmakers with an opportunity to scrutinise the commission’s preparations, identify potential gaps and seek assurances that security, funding and logistical challenges will not prevent eligible Nigerians from participating in the 2027 general elections.
