Proceedings at the House of Representatives of Nigeria turned rowdy on Tuesday, 17th February, 2026 following sharp disagreements among lawmakers over a motion seeking to rescind the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The tension erupted during plenary when Francis Waive, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, moved a motion urging the chamber to reverse its earlier decision on the bill, which was passed on December 23, 2025.
Waive argued that certain provisions in the amendment required further legislative scrutiny, prompting the need to rescind the earlier approval and reconsider aspects of the bill. However, his motion was immediately met with resistance from several lawmakers who questioned the timing and motive behind the proposed reversal.
The disagreement quickly escalated into heated exchanges across the chamber, with members shouting over one another as the presiding officer struggled to restore order. Some lawmakers insisted that the bill had already gone through the necessary legislative process and should not be subjected to what they described as a “backdoor review.”
Others, however, supported Waive’s position, maintaining that the integrity of the electoral framework must take precedence over procedural finality, especially if gaps or contentious clauses had been identified after its passage.
The Electoral Act Amendment Bill is widely regarded as a critical piece of legislation aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of future polls. The attempt to rescind its passage has therefore sparked intense debate within the Green Chamber.
As of press time, deliberations were ongoing, with leadership of the House working to calm frayed nerves and chart a way forward on the contentious motion.
