House of Representatives on Tuesday voted against a series of constitutional amendment bills that sought significant changes to Nigeria’s governance structure. Chief among the rejected proposals was a bill aiming to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its constitutional powers to register and regulate political parties, transferring that authority to a newly proposed Office of the Registrar-General of Political Parties. The bill, co-sponsored by Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, and Francis Waive, was turned down after a voice vote led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu during plenary.
Also thrown out was another prominent bill proposed by Kalu himself, which sought to enshrine the principle of rotation for the offices of President and Vice President across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones—North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-South, and South-West. Although this bill generated some debate, with supporters arguing it would promote national unity and inclusivity, critics held that such matters should remain the prerogative of political parties and not be enforced constitutionally. The division among lawmakers was evident, yet the final voice vote resulted in its rejection along with several other bills.
Among the other constitutional amendment bills dismissed by the House was one that sought to establish the Offices of State Auditors-General for Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils. Sponsored by Julius Ihonvbere, the proposal aimed to boost fiscal oversight and accountability at the grassroots level. Lawmakers also rejected another bill from Ihonvbere, which proposed raising the number of judges in the Federal High Court to not fewer than 100, along with expanding the court’s jurisdiction to cover admiralty and shipping matters along the Niger and Benue rivers and all federal ports.
Yet another bill seeking to empower the National Judicial Council (NJC) to set and review the salaries and allowances of judicial officers and judiciary staff—also sponsored by Ihonvbere—failed to scale through. Additionally, a bill proposed by Francis Waive to create Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State was voted down, as were several others grouped in the same batch of constitutional changes.
The plenary session, marked by heated exchanges and divided opinions, saw lawmakers from different parties taking opposing stances. While Deputy Minority Leader Sani Madaki of the NNPP opposed the zoning bill on grounds that political parties should handle such matters, other lawmakers like Minority Whip Ali Isa and Clement Jimbo supported it, citing the need for inclusiveness and the correction of longstanding regional imbalances. Still, others like Mohammed el-Rufai argued that the bill might infringe on constitutional rights.
The voice vote that sealed the fate of the bills sparked discontent among some lawmakers, especially those who believed that bundling them together for a collective vote was unfair. Francis Waive, Chair of the House Committee on Rules and Business, appealed for the bills to be considered individually. However, Deputy Minority Leader Ali Jesse invoked Order 9, Rule 6 of the House, emphasizing that any reversal of the vote would require a substantive motion. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen agreed and directed the committee to list the matter for re-presentation on the order paper for the next legislative day.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time the House has rejected constitutional proposals of this magnitude. In March, a similar bill seeking to remove INEC’s regulatory powers over political parties was passed but appears to have faced renewed scrutiny. Likewise, in November 2024, lawmakers had also dismissed a controversial proposal for a six-year single term for presidents and governors, which had included provisions for zoning of executive power.
The House’s firm rejection of these amendments underscores the complexity of constitutional reforms in Nigeria. While some of the proposals aimed at strengthening governance and promoting inclusivity, the concerns around legal implications, federal balance, and potential overreach continue to shape legislative outcomes. The rejected bills may yet return for reconsideration if a formal motion is presented. Until then, the status quo remains intact.
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