Politics
House Chaos: Speaker Overrules ‘Nay’ to Rescind Electoral Bill Amid E-Transmission Protests
The House of Representatives erupted in chaos on Tuesday as protests outside the National Assembly intensified over demands for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the contentious Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
With exactly 368 days remaining until the February 20, 2027, general elections, civil society groups, activists, and demonstrators besieged the National Assembly gates for a second consecutive day (and in some reports, continuing from prior weeks), chanting slogans and pressing lawmakers to ensure polling unit results are uploaded live to INEC’s IReV portal without discretionary fallbacks that critics say could enable manipulation.
A key joint Conference Committee session between Senate and House delegations to reconcile differences particularly on Clause 60(3) regarding electronic transmission was postponed to late night after the House side failed to convene formally on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s plenary.
Inside the chamber during an emergency plenary on electoral matters, the atmosphere turned rowdy when Hon. Francis Waive (Chairman, Committee on Rules and Business) moved a motion for rescission of the House’s earlier passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.
The motion, seconded by Hon. Bayo Balogun (Chairman, Committee on Electoral Matters), sought to recommit the bill for reconsideration, reportedly to address inconsistencies arising from ongoing harmonization talks with the Senate’s version.
When Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the motion to a voice vote, the chamber rang with loud “Nay” shouts from many lawmakers apparently opposing it. Despite this, the Speaker declared the “Ayes” had it, ruling the motion carried.
The decision ignited immediate uproar, with members protesting vocally and accusing the presiding officer of overriding the evident majority.To quell the escalating disorder, the House quickly adjourned into a closed-door executive session to deliberate further.
The Senate has endorsed electronic transmission but with a more flexible framework (often conditional on network availability or INEC discretion), while the House version previously mandated compulsory real-time upload alongside physical collation.
Protesters, including groups backed by figures like Obiageli Ezekwesili and coalitions such as Situation Room, insist the final harmonized bill must adopt the stronger House position to safeguard electoral integrity and public trust ahead of 2027.
This remains a developing story, with the executive session’s outcome and any progress in Conference Committee talks poised to determine the fate of Nigeria’s electoral reforms.
Politics
Jonathan challenges suit seeking his disqualification from 2027 race
The senior lawyer said that it was unfortunate that such a suit is filed by a lawyer who should know more that this same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to Court of Appeal.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday challenged a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to restrain him from contesting 2027 presidential election.
Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
Uche informed the court that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit and a written address had been filed on May 5 ,praying the court to dismiss the case.
He said that they got information about the case through the media and hence, the need to file their processes urgently going by the importance of the matter which boiled down on the eligibility of the forner president to contest in the next election.
The senior lawyer said that it was unfortunate that such a suit is filed by a lawyer who should know more that this same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to Court of Appeal.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was for mention but he was just being served with Jonathan’s processes.
He said that he would need more time to respond
Politics
JUST IN: Federal High Court adjourns ADC leadership suit indefinitely
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned indefinitely a suit filed by an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, has triggered fresh leadership tensions within the ADC following the emergence of Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in the party’s leadership structure.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had on April 30 dismissed an interlocutory appeal earlier filed by Mark against the proceedings.
He added that the apex court also set aside the Court of Appeal’s order staying proceedings in the substantive suit.
“The interlocutory appeal of the second defendant has travelled to the Supreme Court. My Lord, we are glad to inform this honourable court that on the 30th day of April 2026, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the interlocutory appeal dismissing the said appeal for lacking in merit,” he said.
Haruna, however, disclosed that the plaintiff had written a letter dated May 4, 2026, to the Chief Judge seeking reassignment of the case to another judge, urging the court to await an administrative decision on the request.
“At this juncture, we must humbly pray to your Lordship, to wait for the administrative decision of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court,” he said.
The request was opposed by defence lawyers, who accused the plaintiff of attempting to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court
In a dramatic political shake-up, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has been removed as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).
The decision was taken at an extraordinary meeting of approximately 20 Progressive Governors held in Abuja on Thursday. The governors, who include those of Ogun, Bayelsa, Enugu States and 17 others, convened shortly after the submission of President Bola Tinubu’s presidential nomination form.
Sources at the meeting described the move as a strategic realignment within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) structure. Governor Uzodinma’s removal marks the end of his tenure as PGF Chairman, a position he had held for several years.
A new chairman is expected to be announced soon as the forum seeks to consolidate its position and strengthen coordination among progressive governors ahead of key national political developments.
This development comes at a critical time for the APC, with intra-party dynamics and preparations for future elections taking center stage.
More details are awaited as the Progressive Governors Forum is yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the extraordinary meeting.
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