Lawmakers in Nigeria’s House of Representatives have ordered a formal inquiry into the Independent National Electoral Commission, directing its Electoral Matters Committee to summon the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, over the agency’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.
The resolution follows intense debate over countrywide security risks, logistics, and rising public outrage after suspected AI-generated photographs and questionable entries were discovered in the commission’s preliminary voters’ register.
Sponsors of the motion warned that persistent insecurity across various constituencies could prevent numerous polling units from participating unless concrete security and logistical measures are established early.
While Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, noted that oversight could be handled by the committee rather than a full plenary appearance, Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, directed that the meeting date be made public so all interested lawmakers could question the electoral chief on funding, technology deployment, and ad-hoc staff recruitment.
The legislative intervention coincides with sharp criticism from civil society organizations, including ActionAid Nigeria and the Middle Belt Forum, who are demanding transparent proof of operational readiness rather than verbal assurances.
Responding to the controversy surrounding the voter roll, INEC explained that the online publication was the preliminary register displayed for public scrutiny and assured Nigerians that ongoing verification and cleanup will eliminate all fraudulent entries before the final register is certified on December 15, 2026.
