2027: How Reps Gave Contentious Support To Senate on Electoral Act Amendment
- By Metropolix ~
- February 18, 2026 --
- 0 Comment
— House of Reps during session
By St. Johnson Adegboyega
A new dimension surfaced at the National Assembly as minority members of the House of Representatives staged a dramatic walk-out over contentious provisions in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, even as police tear-gassed protesters demanding mandatory electronic transmission of results ahead of the 2027 general election.
On a day marked by high political drama, heated arguments and street protests, the House caved in to pressure and adopted Clause 60(3), which provides for both real-time electronic and manual transmission of election results. It also passed Clause 84, dealing with the mode of nomination of candidates by political parties.
The House of Representatives, which had earlier passed e-transmission of results, was under pressure to adopt the Senate version which provided for conditional e-transmission.
The developments triggered outrage from opposition lawmakers, civil society organisations, organised labour and pro-democracy activists, who accused the National Assembly of weakening electoral safeguards and “programming rigging into law.”
This was as the Senate amended the Electoral Act to reduce the notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days, paving the way for adjustment of the 2027 general election timetable, thus averting a clash with the Ramadan fasting period.
The upper chamber also, for the second time in one week, rejected real-time electronic transmission of election results after a division, as 55 senators voted to retain manual transmission where network fails, while 15 kicked against the provision.
Walk-out over Clause 60(3), 84
Trouble began during clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025 in the Committee of the Whole.
The House had earlier rescinded its December 2025 passage of the bill to address identified inconsistencies before recommitting it for fresh deliberations. But proceedings turned contentious when lawmakers considered Clause 60(3).
Bamidele Salam moved a motion seeking deletion of the provision allowing manual transmission of results, arguing that election results should be transmitted electronically without exception. The motion was seconded by Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda.
However, when the proposal was subjected to a voice vote, the “nays” carried the day, effectively retaining both manual and electronic transmission options.
Senate passes Electoral Act 2026 Bill after tense debate
The decision sparked visible anger among minority lawmakers, who later walked out of plenary.
Addressing journalists, Chinda declared that the minority could not support any clause that creates room for manipulation.
“Our position is that elections shall and should be transmitted electronically. We are against any clause that would give room for micro-manipulation, rigging, or leeway for any untoward act,’’ he said.
He disclosed that the minority proposed that where there was any conflict between manually collated Form EC8A results and electronically transmitted results, the electronically transmitted version should prevail.
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