Opposition lawmakers staged a dramatic walk-out from the House of Representatives on Tuesday after the chamber approved the Senate’s version of the Electoral Act amendment bill.
The protest erupted during consideration of the bill adopting the position earlier passed by the Senate on the electronic transmission of election results.
As Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House who presided over the session officer the question on section 60 which deals with electronic transmission for adoption, opposition lawmakers rose in protest, alleging impropriety in the handling of the amendment.
“They’ve collected money,” the member screamed repeatedly, while others shouted “APC ole”.
Read also: Reps makes U-turn, adopts Senate version on transmission of election results
Almost immediately, several opposition members walked out of the chamber in apparent protest against the adoption of Senate provisio, and rejection of its amendment to enhance transparency.
The House adopted the Senate’s position, which provides for electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s portal after completion and signing of the prescribed result form, while allowing manual collation to serve as a fallback in the event of technical failure.
The decision marks a reversal of the House’s earlier stance, which had been interpreted by some lawmakers and civil society groups as pushing for stronger guarantees around real-time electronic transmission of results.
Tuesday’s session was tense from the start, reflecting divisions within the chamber over both the substance of the amendment and the process leading to its passage. Some members had previously complained about procedural breaches during earlier consideration of the bill, insisting that amendments should be subjected to clause-by-clause scrutiny.
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