Opposition lawmakers on Tuesday staged a walkout from the House of Representatives following the adoption of the Senate’s version of the Electoral Act amendment bill on electronic transmission of election results.
The protest occurred during plenary as the House considered and approved the position earlier passed by the Senate on the contentious issue of e-transmission.
As Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, put the question on Section 60 of the bill, dealing with electronic transmission of results, opposition members rose in protest, alleging impropriety in the handling of the amendment.
“They’ve collected money,” one lawmaker shouted repeatedly, while others chorused “APC ole”, in reference to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Amid the heated exchange, several opposition lawmakers walked out of the chamber in protest against the adoption of the Senate provision and the rejection of amendments they said would have strengthened transparency in the electoral process.
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The House went on to adopt the Senate’s position, which allows for electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission portal after the completion and signing of the prescribed result forms. The provision also permits manual collation of results as a fallback option in the event of technical failure.
The decision represents a reversal of the House’s earlier position, which had been viewed by some lawmakers and civil society organisations as favouring stronger safeguards for real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Proceedings on Tuesday were tense, reflecting deep divisions within the chamber over both the substance of the amendment and the process that led to its passage. Some lawmakers had earlier raised concerns about alleged procedural breaches, arguing that proposed amendments should undergo clause-by-clause consideration before adoption.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
