Opposition Lawmakers Walk Out Over Electoral Bill Debate

On Tuesday, opposition lawmakers walked out during the deliberation of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, which has sparked controversy, particularly regarding Clause 60(3). This clause, proposed by Bamidel Salam of the PDP from Osun, seeks to retain mandatory electronic transmission of election results through the INEC Results Viewing Portal while removing provisions for manual transmission in case of network failure.

The Deputy Spokesperson, Agbes, described the walkout as a normal parliamentary practice that should not be misconstrued as a breakdown of legislative order. He emphasized that the action reflects disagreement within the parliamentary tradition and is part of a healthy legislative process.

The walkout followed heated debates on the bill, which is significant ahead of the 2027 general elections, indicating robust discussions and differing opinions among members of the House.