House of Representatives plenary descended into turmoil on Tuesday as lawmakers protested what they described as a procedural breach during consideration of amendments to the Electoral Act.
The uproar began when Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, moved to consider the amendment bill without specifying the provisions under review or conducting a clause-by-clause examination, a standard practice in parliamentary procedure.
Several legislators interrupted the proceedings, insisting that each clause of the bill must be scrutinised and voted on individually to ensure proper legislative oversight.
Aggrieved members rose from their seats chanting “clause by clause,” demanding adherence to parliamentary norms.
The disruption forced a temporary halt to the session as tensions escalated, with lawmakers challenging the manner in which the debate was being conducted.
The confrontation lasted for several minutes, reflecting the high stakes and lingering divisions over the role of real-time electronic transmission and other provisions in the Electoral Act.
Observers noted that the incident highlights ongoing friction between the opposition and the ruling party over transparency and procedural integrity in the legislative process, particularly regarding amendments intended to modernise Nigeria’s voting system.
