NEWS
House of Representatives Erupts as Lawmakers Stage Dramatic Walkout Over Controversial Electoral Act Amendment
…as Opposition Reps Chants “APC Ole” as They Exited the Chamber in Open Protest Against the Retention of Clause 60(3)
The plenary of the House of Representatives was thrown into chaos on Tuesday as aggrieved lawmakers staged a dramatic walkout in protest against the adoption of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, exposing deep divisions within the chamber over the future of election result transmission in Nigeria.
Tension began to build when Rep. Bamidele Salam moved a motion seeking the removal of the provision that allows manual transmission of election results. He argued that retaining manual transmission could weaken the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system and slow the country’s progress toward a fully technology-driven process. The motion was seconded by Rep. Kingsley Chinda, signaling significant backing for the proposal among members.
However, when the matter was subjected to a voice vote, the nays prevailed, effectively defeating the motion and sustaining the clause in the amendment bill. The outcome immediately sparked uproar within the chamber, with lawmakers exchanging heated words as tempers flared over what many considered a critical decision for Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
In a bid to restore order and calm frayed nerves, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, called for an executive session. The closed-door meeting was intended to broker understanding and ease the mounting tension among members. Yet, the intervention failed to produce the desired reconciliation.
When plenary resumed, the atmosphere remained charged. The situation escalated further as some lawmakers rose from their seats and physically obstructed the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, from continuing with the proceedings.
With frustration boiling over, the aggrieved members staged a walkout, chanting APC Ole as they exited the chamber in open protest against the retention of Clause 60(3). Their action underscored the sharp disagreement over the clause, which addresses the compulsory electronic transmission of election results and remains one of the most contentious aspects of the proposed amendment.
The dramatic protest marks one of the most intense confrontations in recent plenary sessions, highlighting the high political stakes surrounding electoral reforms and the persistent debate over the role of technology in safeguarding Nigeria’s democr
atic process.