As lawmakers reconvened for plenary on Tuesday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, reaffirmed the chamber’s resolve to pursue sweeping electoral reforms aimed at restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a charged yet purposeful opening session, Speaker Abbas declared that the House will focus on making elections less contentious and more cost-effective, proposing measures such as single-day voting and democratic, transparent party primaries.
He also announced that two high-impact bills — the Reserved Seats Bill for Women and the State Police Bill — will top the legislative agenda in the coming months, describing them as “vital to deepening inclusion and securing our nation.”
But the day’s proceedings briefly turned tense when Hon. Obinna Aguocha rose under matters of privilege to protest the House’s silence over his earlier letter to the Speaker and President Bola Tinubu concerning the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu.
Aguocha expressed frustration over the lack of response from the Speaker’s office. Despite Abbas’s appeal for him to withdraw the motion and address the issue privately, the lawmaker stood firm, insisting he acted within parliamentary rules.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu later intervened to calm the situation, assuring that the matter would be appropriately scheduled for deliberation.
Tuesday’s session ultimately reaffirmed the House’s renewed legislative focus on electoral credibility, institutional reform, and inclusive governance, signaling an active and potentially eventful legislative season ahead.
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