Reps to grill INEC over 2027 election readiness, voter registration challenges

The House of Representatives has resolved to invite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to appear before its committee to provide a comprehensive assessment of its preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Mansur Manu Soro and Abdussamad Dasuki, which raised concerns over operational challenges facing the commission, particularly in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The motion, initially seeking INEC’s appearance before the House, was amended to require the commission to brief the relevant committee on its readiness for the elections.

Under the resolution, INEC is expected to appear before the committee within seven legislative days and provide a detailed status report on its preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers said the assessment should cover voter registration, Permanent Voter Card (PVC) production and distribution, election logistics, deployment of technology, recruitment and training of personnel, electoral security, risk assessment and funding.

They also called for information on budgetary appropriations, funds released, outstanding releases and the implications of any funding gaps for the commission’s preparations.

The House expressed concern over reports from CVR centres across the country indicating inadequate registration equipment, limited personnel, network challenges, prolonged waiting times and increased demand from citizens seeking to register or update their voter records.

According to the lawmakers, these difficulties could restrict the participation of eligible voters, particularly first-time voters, rural residents, persons with disabilities, students and workers.

They warned that failure to address the operational gaps promptly could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and threaten the peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections.

The lawmakers noted that the credibility, transparency and acceptability of the elections would depend significantly on INEC’s preparedness in areas such as voter education, logistics, technology deployment, personnel training, security coordination and timely funding.

They further observed that the recently concluded Ekiti State governorship election had provided useful lessons on election administration, technology deployment, logistics management and stakeholder engagement that could inform preparations for the 2027 polls.

The motion acknowledged INEC’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system but stressed the need for sustained parliamentary oversight to ensure that institutions entrusted with critical national responsibilities were adequately prepared, properly funded and accountable.

It also emphasised the importance of early institutional planning to ensure the timely procurement of election materials, deployment of technology, recruitment and training of election officials, effective voter education and coordination with security agencies.

The lawmakers said a comprehensive review of the commission’s preparedness would help identify potential weaknesses early enough for corrective action.

They added that addressing the identified challenges was necessary to guarantee free, fair, credible, inclusive and peaceful elections in 2027.