A heated session unfolded in the House of Representatives on Tuesday following a motion seeking to rescind the chamber’s earlier approval of the “real-time” electronic transmission clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, moved the motion to align the House’s position with that of the Senate on the contentious provision.
However, when the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, put the motion to a voice vote, disagreement erupted. Although the “nays” appeared louder than the “ayes,” the Speaker ruled in favour of the “ayes,” prompting protests and loud objections from lawmakers on the floor. The tension forced the Speaker to call for an executive session.
The controversy centres on the clause mandating the compulsory real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal. The House had earlier approved the provision in December 2025, requiring presiding officers to transmit results electronically in real time after signing the relevant forms.
In contrast, the Senate initially rejected the “real-time” requirement but later reversed its stance to approve electronic transmission, while retaining manual collation as a backup in the event of technical failure.
Both chambers subsequently constituted a joint conference committee to harmonise their differing versions of the bill. Opposition parties have urged the National Assembly to retain the House’s original version, which includes the real-time transmission clause.
The latest development underscores ongoing divisions within the legislature over the framework for election result transmission ahead of future polls.
