Proceedings in the House of Representatives turned rowdy on Tuesday as lawmakers clashed over a motion to rescind the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. The bill, originally passed on December 23, 2025, mandates the real-time transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s result viewing portal (IReV).
The motion to reverse the bill was moved by Francis Waive, chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business. When Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the motion to a voice vote, the “nays” were louder than the “ayes,” but he ruled that the nays had prevailed, sparking immediate protests from lawmakers.
Lawmakers vocally objected to the speaker’s ruling, with shouts and interruptions disrupting proceedings. In response to the uproar, Abbas called for an executive session to allow calmer deliberation on the motion, though the proposal to rescind the bill was ultimately rejected.
Despite the resistance, the speaker proceeded to move the house into an executive session, aiming to manage the tension and continue legislative business without further disruption. The row highlighted deep divisions among lawmakers over amendments to Nigeria’s electoral framework.
The Electoral Act Amendment, passed in December 2025, remains in effect, with its key provision requiring real-time election result transmission through IReV, a measure intended to enhance transparency and reduce electoral disputes. The controversy underscores ongoing debates in the House over electoral reforms and legislative authority.
