The Deputy Spokesperson of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has described Tuesday’s walkout by opposition lawmakers during deliberations on the Electoral Amendment Bill as a normal feature of democratic legislatures worldwide.
Minority caucus members staged the protest during plenary after the House adopted its position on Clauses 60(3) and 84 of the Electoral Amendment Bill 2026.
The walkout followed the rejection of an amendment sponsored by a lawmaker of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bamidele Salam, who proposed retaining compulsory electronic transmission of election results directly from polling units to the IReV portal, without allowing manual transmission in cases of technological failure.
The amendment was defeated through a voice vote, prompting opposition lawmakers to exit the chamber in protest.
Speaking in an interview in Abuja on Thursday, Agbese said walkouts are part of standard parliamentary practice and should not be interpreted as a breakdown of legislative order.
“Walkouts are used by lawmakers to express strong opposition to decisions they do not agree with. They are a recognised feature of parliamentary democracy across the world,” he said.
He stressed that dissent remains a vital element of democratic engagement, adding that despite differing opinions, the House is united in its commitment to Nigeria’s democratic process and the welfare of citizens.
Clarifying the House’s decision on Section 60(3), Agbese said lawmakers approved mandatory electronic transmission of Form EC8A election results to the IReV portal to ensure transparency and accuracy. However, he noted that safeguards were introduced to permit manual transmission where electronic transmission is not feasible.
According to him, the decision was taken in the national interest and should not be misconstrued as undermining the integrity of elections.
Agbese added that the House leadership is engaging widely with stakeholders to address contentious electoral reform issues transparently and in line with constitutional provisions.
He urged Nigerians to view the recent developments as part of healthy democratic engagement, noting that disagreements are inevitable in a legislature that reflects diverse political, regional and ideological interests.
