The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to retain both real-time electronic transmission and manual transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment to the Electoral Act, setting the stage for a hybrid results system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision followed a tense and prolonged debate on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025, which has generated sharp divisions among lawmakers.
Earlier in the day, the House went into a closed-door session to ease rising tensions and allow members to deliberate further on contentious provisions of the bill. However, proceedings turned rowdy shortly after plenary resumed, as lawmakers demanded that the legislation be considered clause by clause rather than adopted wholesale.
Trouble began when the Deputy Speaker, who presided over the session, attempted to take the committee’s report in bulk. The move was immediately resisted by several members, who argued that the sweeping implications of the proposed amendments for the 2027 elections required detailed scrutiny of each provision.
Amid loud protests on the floor, lawmakers insisted on a clause-by-clause consideration. The Deputy Speaker subsequently halted proceedings and restarted the process, agreeing to subject the bill to individual voting on each clause.
During deliberations, the House adopted Clause 60(3), which provides for both real-time electronic transmission and manual transmission of election results.
An attempt to amend the clause by deleting the provision for manual transmission failed. Rep. Bamidele Salam moved the motion, contending that retaining manual transmission could weaken the credibility of the electoral process and stall technological progress. The motion was seconded by Rep. Kingsley Chinda.
When the proposal was put to a voice vote, the “nays” carried the day, effectively preserving manual transmission alongside electronic transmission in the amended bill.
The development signals the House’s preference for a dual transmission framework as preparations gradually begin for the 2027 polls.
