Nigeria’s House of Representatives has resolved to summon the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, to brief lawmakers on the electoral body’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
The decision followed a joint motion sponsored by Representatives Mansur Soro and Abdussamad Dasuki during Wednesday’s plenary session. Presenting the motion, Soro emphasized that public trust in the upcoming polls hinges entirely on early operational groundwork, including voter registration, personnel training, security arrangements, and strict adherence to implementation timelines.
He highlighted persistent operational hurdles across continuous voter registration centres, such as equipment deficits, technical disruptions, and prolonged wait times, warning that unresolved gaps could disenfranchise rural citizens, students, and first-time voters.
“Any delay in addressing existing operational gaps in voter registration, logistics, technology deployment and funding may adversely affect public confidence in the electoral process and compromise the peaceful conduct of the 2027 general election”, Soro stated.
While the sponsors originally sought a full briefing before the entire chamber at plenary, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu stepped in to amend the directive.
Kalu proposed instead that the electoral chief appear before the House Committee on Electoral Matters, allowing any interested lawmaker to participate. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the amendment to a voice vote, which was sustained by the House.
