Chaos in the House: Reps in Rowdy Session Over Move to Rescind Electoral Act Bill

The House of Representatives erupted into a rowdy session on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, following a controversial motion to rescind a previously passed amendment to the Electoral Act. The tension reached a boiling point as lawmakers from various political divides clashed over the sudden attempt to revisit the bill, which many consider crucial for the integrity of the 2027 general elections.

The commotion began shortly after a motion was moved to reconsider certain clauses of the bill that had already been debated and adopted by the House. Opposition members immediately raised objections, accusing the House leadership of attempting to "water down" critical provisions, particularly those related to the electronic transmission of results and the strengthening of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The session quickly degenerated into a shouting match, with several lawmakers seen gathered in small groups, gesticulating wildly and challenging the presiding officer’s rulings.

According to reports from the floor, the disagreement centers on a suspicion that the ruling party is attempting to backpedal on reforms that would limit human interference in the collation of results. Those in favor of the rescission argued that certain "clerical errors" and "ambiguities" needed to be corrected before the bill is transmitted to the President for assent. However, their colleagues in the opposition labeled the move as a "legislative ambush" designed to frustrate the yearnings of Nigerians for a more transparent electoral process.

The Speaker struggled to maintain order for over thirty minutes as the chamber was filled with cries of "Point of Order" and "No to Rescission." The atmosphere remained charged, reflecting the high stakes of the electoral reform process as the country approaches the next election cycle. The session eventually had to be momentarily suspended or delayed as leaders moved to calm frayed nerves and prevent the situation from escalating into physical altercations.

Is the attempt to rescind the bill a genuine effort to fix errors, or is it a calculated move to weaken our electoral laws ahead of 2027? Share your comments below!

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