The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Mr Philip Agbese, has described the walkout staged by some opposition lawmakers during plenary on Tuesday as a normal parliamentary practice and a reflection of democracy in action.
Members of the minority caucus had walked out of the chamber while deliberations were ongoing on the Electoral Amendment Bill 2026, protesting the House’s position on Clauses 60 (3) and 84 of the proposed legislation.
The protest followed the rejection of an amendment moved by Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker, Bamidele Salam, who sought to retain the provision mandating compulsory electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s IReV portal directly from polling units. He also proposed the removal of the proviso allowing manual transmission in the event of technological failure.
The amendment was defeated through a voice vote, prompting opposition lawmakers to stage a walkout.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Agbese said the action was not unusual in parliamentary systems across the world.
“Walkouts are part of standard parliamentary practice globally. They are used by lawmakers to express firm opposition to decisions they do not align with,” he said.
He cautioned against interpreting the protest as a breakdown of legislative order, stressing that dissent remains an integral part of democratic engagement.
Agbese said the House remained united in its commitment to Nigeria’s democracy and the interests of citizens, despite differences of opinion among members.
“What is important is that issues are ventilated openly and resolved through legislative procedures. Nigerians should be assured that the House will not fail them,” he added.
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On Section 60 (3), the deputy spokesperson clarified that the House approved mandatory electronic transmission of Form EC8A election results to the IReV portal to ensure that valid votes are fully and accurately captured.
He, however, noted that lawmakers introduced safeguards to address situations where electronic transmission might not be feasible, allowing for manual transmission in such circumstances.
Agbese maintained that the decision was taken in the best interest of the country and not to undermine the integrity of the electoral process, as suggested in some quarters.
He further disclosed that the House leadership was consulting widely with stakeholders to ensure that contentious issues, particularly those concerning electoral reforms, are addressed transparently and in line with constitutional provisions.
Reaffirming the chamber’s focus, Agbese said the House of Representatives remains committed to its constitutional responsibilities of lawmaking, representation and oversight.
He urged Nigerians to view recent developments in the chamber as part of healthy democratic engagement rather than a crisis, noting that disagreements are inevitable in a legislature that reflects diverse political, regional and ideological interests.