Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has opposed a proposal to invite the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to brief the full House on preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Kalu argued that INEC’s periodic public briefings were sufficient to address concerns about its preparations, maintaining that any further questions should be handled by the relevant standing committee of the House.
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He made the position known during Wednesday’s plenary while lawmakers debated a motion seeking to invite Amupitan to provide an update on the commission’s readiness for the elections.
The motion was moved by the Minority Whip, Mansur Soro, and the Deputy Minority Leader, Abdulsamad Dasuki.
Opposing the proposal, Kalu said inviting the INEC chairman to address the entire House could distract the commission from its preparations, given the time remaining before the elections.
He also warned that such an invitation could create unnecessary public anxiety and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
According to the deputy speaker, the commission had already engaged the public on its preparations and addressed several concerns. He argued that the House should rely on its committee system to seek further clarification where necessary.
Kalu questioned the need for another plenary briefing when, in his view, INEC had recently presented information about its preparations to the public.
He said the relevant House committee had the mandate to engage with the electoral commission and should be allowed to carry out that responsibility.
“I want to move that this prayer be changed to inviting INEC to meet with the committee for any briefing, not coming to the House,” he said.
Kalu’s proposed amendment sought to redirect the request for a briefing from the full House to the relevant committee. The amendment was seconded by Babajimi Benson, a member representing Lagos State.
Following a voice vote conducted by Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, lawmakers supported the amendment.
The motion was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Electoral Matters for further engagement with INEC.
The decision places responsibility for seeking additional information about the commission’s preparations with the committee rather than requiring the INEC chairman to appear before the entire House.
The debate comes as attention turns to the preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with questions about electoral logistics, public confidence and the use of technology featuring in wider discussions about the credibility of the electoral process.
Kalu maintained that lawmakers should support INEC’s preparations and use the established committee process to address outstanding concerns.
The motion’s referral to the Electoral Matters Committee provides a channel for further legislative scrutiny while allowing the commission to respond to lawmakers’ questions through the committee.
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The development highlights the role of legislative oversight in election preparations, as the National Assembly considers how best to monitor INEC’s readiness without unnecessarily disrupting its work.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
