The House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session on Tuesday as lawmakers debated the rescission of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The plenary, presided over by Speaker Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, was sparsely attended, but tensions rose quickly as members voiced differing opinions on the bill’s reversal.
The only item on the day’s Order Paper, “Rescission of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” was read by the Speaker 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.
Waive, addressing the House, explained that a Technical Committee had been set up to harmonise the bill and resolve identified anomalies. “The House is aware that this 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 address these issues,” he said.
The session quickly became heated as lawmakers debated the implications of rescinding the bill, with some members arguing that more consultations were needed before any legislative reversal could take place.
Meanwhile, protesters have again gathered outside the National Assembly, calling for real-time transmission of election results.