The House of Representatives on Tuesday erupted into a heated session following a motion to rescind the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025, which the chamber had originally passed in December last year.
The row broke out as lawmakers convened for an emergency sitting focused on electoral matters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Presiding over the session, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas praised members who travelled from outside Abuja to attend what he described as a critical national assignment. He emphasised that the sitting had a single agenda: the rescission and recommittal of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025.
“The issues before us will define the elections of 2027 and give a clear vision of what is expected to be done,” Abbas said, stressing the urgency of revisiting certain provisions previously approved by the House.
Motion To Rescind Bill
Naija News reports that the process began with a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive. He invoked Order Nine, Rule 6 of the House Standing Orders to seek the bill’s rescission.
Waive recalled that the Electoral Act Amendment Bill was passed in December 2025 but explained that a technical committee, comprising the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly, members of the conference committee, clerks of the Senate and House, and legal drafters, later met to harmonise the legislation.
According to him, the review revealed inconsistencies and unintended consequences in certain provisions, making further legislative intervention necessary.
He stressed that the House must ensure Nigeria’s electoral laws promote “maximum participation, fairness, inclusivity, administrative efficiency and public confidence in the electoral system.”
“The House resolves to rescind its decision on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025 and recommit the bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration,” he said.
The motion was seconded by the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, who supported a fresh review of the bill.
Tensions, however, escalated when the Speaker put the question on rescinding the bill to a voice vote.
While many lawmakers shouted “nay,” Abbas ruled in favour of the “ayes” and struck the gavel, prompting loud protests and a rowdy atmosphere on the chamber floor.
The development briefly disrupted proceedings as members expressed opposition to the ruling.
Following the uproar, the Speaker called for a closed-door meeting to restore order and allow further deliberations. Lawmakers subsequently moved into an executive session, with discussions on the proposed review continuing behind closed doors. The outcome of these talks is expected to significantly shape preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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