Quick Summary:
ElectoralActRow2026 as House of Representatives descends into chaos over motion to rescind passage of Electoral Act Amendment Bill mandating real-time result transmission to INEC’s IReV portal.
Proceedings in the House of Representatives turned rowdy on Tuesday after lawmakers disagreed over a motion seeking to rescind the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The motion was moved by Francis Waive, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, who urged the chamber to reverse its decision on the bill earlier passed on December 23, 2025.
When Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the motion to a voice vote, the “nays” were louder than the “ayes”, prompting him to rule that the motion failed.
Protests Erupt, Speaker Calls Executive Session
The ruling immediately triggered protests from several lawmakers, who shouted in objection to the Speaker’s decision.
In an attempt to restore order, Speaker Abbas called for an executive session, but the proposal was initially rejected by some members. Despite the resistance, the House eventually moved into a closed-door session.
Real-Time Result Transmission at the Center of Dispute
The Electoral Act Amendment Bill, passed in December 2025, includes a provision mandating real-time transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
The clause has been a major point of contention, with some lawmakers and political stakeholders arguing that it is crucial for transparency, while others claim it could pose logistical and technical challenges during elections.
