The House of Representatives on Thursday apologised to protesters affected by the firing of tear gas at the National Assembly earlier this week, describing the incident as regrettable and assuring that the circumstances surrounding it were being reviewed.
The apology was delivered by the House Spokesman, Akin Rotimi, at a press conference held to review the Electoral Act signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
The event was organised in Abuja by the Kukah Centre and Yiaga Africa in collaboration with the International Press Centre, TAF Africa, Centre for Media and Society, Nigerian Women Trust Fund and ElectHer.
The Nigerian Police had come under heavy criticism after operatives openly fired tear gas at demonstrators who returned to the National Assembly complex on Tuesday.
The protesters were demanding the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.
The protest resumed after a five-day suspension, following assurances reportedly given to the demonstrators during the previous Tuesday’s sitting.
Expressing sympathy with those affected, Rotimi said, “I would like to express my sympathy with all those who were affected by the tear gas incident at the National Assembly the other day.
“It’s something that the House of Representatives’ media and public affairs is taking up. It should never have happened.”
He added, “Protesters who attend the National Assembly are entitled and constitutionally protected, and we’re looking into the circumstances that led to that.”
While affirming the right to peaceful protest, the lawmaker cautioned against possible infiltration by disruptive elements.
“I would also like to encourage that when you have those protests, you should also discourage infiltration by nefarious characters who would want to incite a form of and break down of law and order.
“That’s to say that the National Assembly, the House of Representatives, particularly, is very intentional about public engagement,” he said.
Speaking further at the conference, Rotimi defended the National Assembly’s handling of the Electoral Act review process, insisting that lawmakers acted in good faith and in compliance with constitutional procedures.
“As the previous speaker rightly said, throughout the process of the review of the Electoral Act 2022 and now of the Electoral Act 2026, civil society organisations were very much involved,” he said.
“I know that a good number of us, especially in civil society, are not quite pleased with the outcomes (passage of the Electoral Act). But I want to assure you that in terms of the process, the public engagement process was full to the letter,” he added.
He maintained that due process was followed at every stage of the amendment exercise.
“What we had was very detailed. Every single thing was done in keeping with the Constitution, the House and Senate rules, and all of that.
“I always like to say that democratisation, of which elections are a critical ritual, is a process. We are at this point, and it doesn’t preclude the fact that there are opportunities in the future to amend the Electoral Act further when we have more facts and details before us,” he added.
Rotimi urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the legislature despite concerns raised by sections of civil society.
He said, “We have acted in the best interest of Nigerians, and we want Nigerians to have some faith, hope and trust in the National Assembly.
“What we have might be an imperfect law, but it is nonetheless done in the best interest of Nigerians. We implore civil society and Nigerians to work with it to ensure that the outcomes will be free, fair, and fairly good elections.”
On calls for the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a nationwide simulation of its result transmission system, he said the House of Representatives welcomed the proposal.
Rotimi also supported calls for the immediate publication of the newly assented Electoral Act to enhance transparency and public awareness.
“We also welcome very much the suggestions that INEC should, as quickly as possible, deploy some sort of simulation of the commission transmission. Let’s test it to know just where the gaps are and ensure that they are fixed.
“I would also like to respond to the suggestion that the National Assembly should very quickly publish the electoral act. I agree. Many of us, because we are privileged, have soft copies of it. But I think it’s something that should be made available to Nigerians.
Electoral Act: Reps apologise to N’Assembly protesters affected by tear gas
