The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Electoral Matters to invite the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to brief lawmakers on the commission’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
The proposed briefing is expected to address key areas, including election logistics, technology deployment, personnel training, security arrangements, voter education and funding.
The move comes amid growing calls from civil society organisations (CSOs), political stakeholders and electoral experts for INEC to provide clear and verifiable evidence of its readiness for the polls. Concerns over the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process have persisted following challenges recorded during the 2023 general elections.
The development also comes against the backdrop of public controversy over suspected artificial intelligence (AI)-generated photographs and questionable entries discovered in INEC’s preliminary voters’ register. The commission has launched an investigation into the reported irregularities and pledged to correct any verified errors before approving the final register.
The House’s decision followed deliberations on a motion jointly sponsored by the Minority Whip, Mansur Manu Soro, and Abdussamad Dasuki, who called for an assessment of INEC’s capacity to conduct credible, transparent and acceptable elections in 2027.
Leading the debate, Soro emphasised that effective planning across critical operational areas would be essential to the credibility of the forthcoming elections.
Lawmakers also referenced lessons from the recent Ekiti State governorship election, highlighting the importance of efficient logistics, reliable technology, stakeholder engagement, security coordination and voter participation.
However, the motion generated debate over whether the INEC chairman should appear before the entire House during plenary or be invited to address the Committee on Electoral Matters.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu opposed summoning the commission’s chairman before the full chamber, arguing that the committee could adequately conduct the necessary legislative oversight.
While acknowledging the importance of scrutinising INEC’s preparations, Kalu noted that the commission’s chairman had recently addressed some concerns during a public presentation.
He further stated that INEC had not raised concerns about logistics, had begun its recruitment process on time and had not expressed reservations about deploying technology for the elections.
The committee’s engagement with the electoral commission is expected to provide lawmakers with an opportunity to examine INEC’s preparations and assess its capacity to deliver credible elections in 2027.
