JUST IN: HOUSE OF REPS APPROVES ELECTRONIC, MANUAL TRANSMISSION OF ELECTION RESULTS AFTER ROWDY SESSION

The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to retain both real-time electronic transmission and manual transmission of election results in the proposed Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025.

The decision followed a heated debate on the bill as lawmakers considered amendments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Earlier, the House had gone into a closed-door session in a bid to restore order and allow members deliberate on contentious provisions of the legislation. However, upon resumption, the chamber again descended into a rowdy session when debate reopened on the bill.

Tensions rose after the Deputy Speaker, who presided over the plenary, attempted to consider the report in bulk rather than on a clause-by-clause basis. Lawmakers strongly objected, insisting that given the far-reaching implications of the amendments for the 2027 elections, each clause must be individually debated and voted upon.

Amid loud protests, the presiding officer halted proceedings and subsequently agreed to subject the bill to clause-by-clause consideration.

Following deliberations, the House adopted Clause 60(3), which provides for both real-time electronic transmission and manual transmission of election results.

Rep. Bamidele Salam moved a motion to delete the provision allowing manual transmission, arguing that retaining it could undermine the credibility and technological advancement of the electoral process. The motion was seconded by Rep. Kingsley Chinda.

When the proposal was put to a voice vote, the “nays” carried the day, effectively defeating the attempt to remove manual transmission from the clause.

The development marks a significant step in the ongoing review of Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the next general elections.