Reps Apologize for Tear Gas Incident at National Assembly

The House of Representatives of Nigeria issued an apology regarding the deployment of tear gas during a protest at the National Assembly earlier in the week. The protest, which took place on Tuesday, involved demonstrators advocating for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results as part of the amendments to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2026 elections.

House spokesman Rotimi expressed regret over the incident and assured that the circumstances surrounding it would be reviewed. He defended the legislative process, stating that lawmakers were acting in good faith and following constitutional procedures.

Rotimi urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the legislature despite criticisms and acknowledged the decline in public trust in institutions. The event was part of ongoing engagements with civil society groups following the passage of the Electoral Act 2026, which has sparked heated debates in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.