Opposition Walks Out Over E-Transmission Reversal Motion

On Tuesday, opposition members of the House of Representatives in Nigeria staged a walkout during a plenary session in protest against a motion aimed at reversing the mandatory electronic transmission of election results. The motion was introduced by Franci Waiv, the chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, urging the House to revisit a bill passed on December 23, 2025, which mandated the electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through the IREV portal.

Tensions escalated when Speaker Tajudeen Abba called for a voice vote, which opposition lawmakers contested, leading to accusations against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to dilute electoral reforms. The atmosphere became rowdy as members shouted across party lines, demanding a definitive vote.

The controversy stems from earlier differences between the House and Senate regarding the electronic transmission clause, with the Senate initially rejecting it before later approving it with conditions for manual collation in case of technological failure.