House Erupts as Lawmakers Battle Over Move to Reverse Electoral Act Amendment

House Erupts as Lawmakers Battle Over Move to Reverse Electoral Act Amendment

Tension flared in the House of Representatives on Tuesday after a motion seeking to rescind the passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 sparked heated exchanges and near-chaos on the floor.

The bill, initially passed on 23 December 2025, was brought back for reconsideration through a motion moved by Francis Waive, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business. The proposal aimed to reverse the earlier decision and recommit the legislation for further legislative scrutiny.

However, when Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the motion to a voice vote, the chamber quickly descended into confusion. While a significant number of lawmakers audibly shouted “nay,” signalling opposition, the Speaker ruled in favour of the “ayes.” The decision immediately triggered loud protests, with several members openly challenging the ruling and disrupting proceedings as tempers rose.

At the heart of the disagreement were contentious provisions in the amendment bill particularly clauses relating to the real-time electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV), alongside other proposed electoral reforms.

Some lawmakers argued that the earlier passage of the bill contained provisions that required clarification or correction before it could proceed for presidential assent. Others appeared resistant to reopening debate on a bill they believed had already been duly passed.

With the chamber growing increasingly disorderly, the Speaker eventually moved proceedings into a closed-door executive session in a bid to restore calm and allow members deliberate away from public glare.

The dramatic scenes underscore lingering divisions within the House over the direction of electoral reforms and the broader debate on transparency, technology, and trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Blessing Anolaba

Editorial & Creative Correspondent
A storyteller and journalist passionate about telling stories for policy change and impact.