- The House of Representatives experienced a rowdy session on Tuesday over the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- Francis Waive, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, moved a motion for the rescission of the bill, which was supported by Adebayo Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters
- When the Speaker called for a vote, the majority voted nay, but the Speaker proceeded to count the few ayes in favour, causing visible agitation among minority caucus members
The House of Representatives was thrown into a turbulent session on Tuesday, February 17, during a resumed plenary presided over by Speaker Dr. Tajudeen Abbas.
In the sparsely attended sitting, the Speaker read the sole item on the day’s Order Paper: “Rescission of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” following a motion moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Francis Waive.
The motion received backing from the Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun.
Speaking on the motion, Waive said, “The House is aware that a Technical Committee comprising the leadership of both chambers, members of the Conference Committee, the Clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and legal drafting experts from the Directorate of Legal Services of the National Assembly met to harmonise and address the identified anomalies.
“We recognise the imperative of ensuring electoral timelines and statutory provisions, promoting maximum participation, fairness, inclusivity, administrative efficiency, and public confidence in the electoral system.
“Desirous of correcting the identified inconsistencies and unintended consequences through appropriate legislative action in order to safeguard the integrity of the electoral framework, the House resolved to rescind the decision on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and recommit the same to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.”
When Speaker Abbas called for a vote on the motion, the majority of lawmakers rejected it, but the Speaker proceeded to count the few voices (ayes) in favor. The decision sparked agitation, especially among minority caucus members who were in the majority.
At one point, Jigawa lawmaker Abubakar Yalleman was seen pointing a finger at his Osun State counterpart, Bamidele Salam, though the specifics of the exchange could not be confirmed.
As tensions escalated, the House adjourned into a closed-door executive session. Lawmakers had not returned to plenary at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, a lawmaker speaking to PUNCH in confidence alleged attempts to alter the version of the bill already passed by the House, warning that such changes would not be accepted.
“They have doctored the Electoral Act, but whatever they brought here will not be considered. Members are angry,” the lawmaker said.
Recall that the National Assembly had established conference committees in both chambers to reconcile the differing versions of the bill. While the House approved real-time electronic transmission of election results in its amended Act, the Senate included a provision allowing manual transmission in cases where real-time transmission fails.