A crucial meeting of the Conference Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, was abruptly shifted to late Monday night after members of the House delegation failed to formally convene ahead of Tuesday’s plenary.
The development followed a motion for rescission on the bill that triggered uproar on the floor of the House, forcing lawmakers into a closed-door executive session during an ongoing emergency plenary.
The delay comes amid mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with exactly 368 days to the February 20, 2027 general elections, to ensure seamless, transparent and legally unassailable electronic transmission of results.
At the emergency plenary convened to deliberate on electoral matters, proceedings began under tense conditions. Outside the National Assembly complex, protesters staged demonstrations demanding that real-time electronic transmission of votes be made mandatory in the amended Electoral Act.
Inside the chamber, Hon. Francis Waive moved a motion seeking rescission of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill to enable the House to reconsider specific provisions. The motion was seconded by Hon. Bayo Balogun, Chairman of the Committee on Electoral Matters.
However, when the motion was put to a voice vote, lawmakers were heard audibly shouting “Nay.” Despite this, the Speaker ruled in favour of the “Ayes,” prompting loud protests and visible agitation among members.
The ruling threw the chamber into disarray, with some lawmakers challenging the decision before the House eventually proceeded into an executive session to deliberate behind closed doors.
As of press time, the outcome of the closed-door meeting and its implications for the final version of the Electoral Act amendment remain unclear.
