A plenary session at the House of Representatives turned rowdy on Tuesday following sharp disagreements among lawmakers over the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill. The tension disrupted proceedings as members exchanged arguments over the handling of the proposed amendment.
Nijatravels reports that the situation escalated after the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, read the only item listed on the Order Paper, which involved a motion seeking rescission of the Electoral Act amendment. The motion was introduced to address perceived inconsistencies identified in the bill.
Lawmakers were informed that a technical committee made up of National Assembly leadership, conference committee members, clerks, and legal experts had reviewed the legislation. The committee reportedly worked to harmonise differences and correct anomalies discovered after earlier passage.
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Tension rose when the Speaker called for a voice vote on the motion. Many lawmakers opposed the move, while only a few supported it, leading to loud protests within the chamber.
Minority caucus members insisted that the majority of lawmakers rejected the motion. They questioned the decision to proceed despite what they described as clear opposition during the voice vote.
The disagreement soon developed into heated exchanges among members on the floor. At one point, lawmakers reportedly confronted one another verbally, forcing leadership to intervene to prevent further escalation.
As the situation intensified, the House moved into a closed-door executive session. The private meeting was aimed at resolving disagreements and restoring order within the chamber.
Sources within the Assembly alleged that some lawmakers feared attempts to alter provisions earlier agreed upon by the House. Concerns were raised that changes could affect key aspects of Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of future elections.
The controversy is linked to differences between the House and Senate versions of the amendment. While the House version supports real-time electronic transmission of election results, the Senate version allows manual transmission where electronic systems fail.
At the time of filing the report, plenary had not resumed following the executive session. The final decision on the Electoral Act amendment remained unclear, leaving lawmakers and observers awaiting further developments.
The development highlights ongoing debates around electoral reforms in Nigeria, with stakeholders emphasising the need for transparency and consensus in legislative processes that shape the country’s democratic system.