The Deputy Speaker urges lawmakers to engage INEC through the House Committee on Electoral Matters, warning that a full plenary session could place unnecessary pressure on the electoral commission.
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 lawmakers during plenary on preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Kalu expressed his position during Wednesday’s plenary while contributing to a motion sponsored by the Minority Whip, Mansur Soro, and Deputy Minority Leader, Abdulsamad Dasuki. The motion sought to have the INEC chairman appear before the House to explain the commission’s level of preparedness for the forthcoming elections.
Speaking against the proposal, Kalu argued that INEC’s recent public engagements had already addressed several concerns about the electoral process. He maintained that further questions from lawmakers should be directed through the House Committee on Electoral Matters, which is responsible for engaging with the commission on behalf of the legislature.
According to the deputy speaker, inviting Amupitan to address the entire House at this stage could place undue pressure on INEC, generate unnecessary public anxiety and weaken confidence in the electoral process.
He also noted that the commission had been communicating with the public about its preparations and had not announced any logistical difficulties that would justify the proposed plenary briefing.
Kalu stated that supporting the motion in its original form would undermine the responsibilities assigned to the relevant committee.
“I stand not in support of the prayer of this particular motion because supporting the prayer is belittling the mandate of the committee set up to carry out this function,” he said.
The deputy speaker further questioned the need for the INEC chairman to appear before lawmakers shortly after providing a public briefing on the commission’s activities.
“Inviting the chairman of INEC to come and brief the House when he just briefed the entire nation is not ideal. Don’t we believe in our committees again?” he asked.
Rather than having Amupitan address the full House, Kalu proposed an amendment directing the chairman to meet with the appropriate committee to discuss the issues raised by lawmakers.
He added that the National Assembly, as an institution with a responsibility to strengthen democratic governance, should support INEC in carrying out its constitutional duties instead of subjecting the commission to what he considered an untimely plenary inquiry.
The proposed amendment received support from Babajimi Benson, a member of the House representing a constituency in Lagos State, who seconded it.
When Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, put the motion to a voice vote, lawmakers overwhelmingly backed the amendment. Abbas subsequently referred the matter to the House Committee on Electoral Matters.
The committee is expected to examine the concerns raised by the lawmakers and engage with INEC regarding its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
