The House of Representatives has rescinded its December 2025 passage of the Electoral Act amendment bill, reopening the legislation for fresh consideration of controversial provisions, including the electronic transmission of election results.
The decision followed a closed-door executive session convened after opposition lawmakers sought to block efforts to reverse the earlier approval of the bill.
Key clauses revisited include Clause 28 on notice of election, Clause 60(3) on the transmission of results, and Clause 84, which outlines procedures for the nomination of candidates by political parties.
Tension mounted when plenary resumed for clause-by-clause consideration, with several lawmakers protesting what they described as an irregular process. Members, largely from the opposition, gathered near the mace chanting “clause by clause” and urging the Speaker to preside directly over proceedings.
The Deputy Speaker, who chaired the Committee of the Whole, informed the House that prior deliberations on the bill had concluded around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
He then proceeded to announce each clause individually before calling for votes in a bid to restore order.
However, fresh uproar erupted when Clause 60 widely regarded as the most contentious provision was introduced.
Lawmakers again converged near the mace in protest, raising concerns over the reconsideration of a bill already passed months earlier.
The House subsequently resolved to conduct a formal division, following a motion by Leke Abejide, to determine its position in line with parliamentary rules.
Under the amended version, Clause 60 mandates that the Presiding Officer electronically transmit results from each polling unit to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s IReV portal after Form EC8A has been duly signed and stamped.
The clause also provides that where electronic transmission fails due to technical or communication challenges, the manually signed Form EC8A shall remain the primary source for collation and declaration of results.
The reopening of debate signals renewed contention over electoral reforms ahead of future polls, with lawmakers sharply divided on the safeguards for transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s election process.