House in Disarray as Lawmakers Challenge Vote on Electoral Act Amendment

A tense session unfolded in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers clashed over a motion to reconsider the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Francis Waive, chair of the House Committee on Rules and Business, moved a motion to rescind the chamber’s December 23, 2025 approval of the bill. The proposal drew immediate resistance.

When Speaker Tajudeen Abbas called for a voice vote, dissenting voices appeared louder than those in support. Despite this, the speaker ruled in favour of the motion, declaring that the “ayes” prevailed.

The decision prompted loud objections across the chamber. Lawmakers protested openly, challenging the ruling. Abbas then proposed moving into an executive session, but members rejected the suggestion. He nevertheless directed the House to proceed behind closed doors.

### Background to the dispute

In December, the green chamber amended the Electoral Act to require the real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission result viewing portal (IReV).

The adopted clause mandates presiding officers to electronically transmit results from each polling unit to IReV immediately after Form EC8A has been signed and stamped, and countersigned by candidates or their agents where available.

Earlier this month, the Senate passed its version of the amendment bill but initially excluded the provision for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results. The move drew criticism from civil society groups and renewed debate over electoral transparency.

On Tuesday, the upper chamber reversed its earlier position and approved electronic transmission to IReV, adding that manual collation would apply where technological challenges occur.

With differences remaining between both versions of the bill, the Senate and the House have set up a conference committee to reconcile the amendments.

Civil society organisations have urged the National Assembly to retain the House’s provision on electronic transmission of results in the final legislation.