House passes Electoral Act amendment after rowdy session
The House of Representatives approved the harmonised Electoral Act amendment Bill on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, following a contentious plenary session marked by shouting matches and a walkout by opposition lawmakers. The bill aims to repeal the 2022 Act and establish new rules for federal, state, and FCT elections. The emergency session was convened due to INEC's 2027 election timetable announcement. Opposition members staged a walkout, protesting the bill's handling and alleging partisan interests. Key disputes centered on Section 60 regarding electronic result transmission, with lawmakers rejecting amendments that would have removed manual collation provisos. The bill now advances to a conference committee for reconciliation with the Senate's version, which retains similar electronic transmission caveats.