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Amid protests and rowdiness, which spanned over an hour, the
House of Representatives dumped a proposal to institute a two-party system for
future elections in the country.

The House voted in support of a multi-party system by 172 votes
to 48, while one member abstained, when the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, called for
division. But members of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress
(AC) and a handful of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the House who
wanted a two-party system, kicked against the result.

The House had, on two previous occasions, failed to vote on the
amendment to Section 80 of the Electoral Act 2006 to include a clause
regulating the number of parties in the country.

During the previous debates on the issue at similarly rowdy
plenary sessions, some members, particularly those of the PDP, had canvassed a
multi-party system while the opposition spoke in support of two parties. This
prompted Mr. Dimeji to defer voting to this week, citing faulty electronic
voting machines his reason.

But yesterday’s plenary was almost stalled as members disagreed
on the voting method. The Speaker consulted with key members and principal
officers even as some of the lawmakers lobbied on the method of voting.

After about 10 minutes, Mr Bankole said, “We’ve had enough
consultations, a lot of different advise and counter advise. The simple thing
to do is voice vote.” But this angered some of the lawmakers who sang No! No!
No! We no go gree o! We no go gree! However, the Speaker went ahead to put the
question, asking the proponent of the two-party system to say ‘yes’ and those
against to say ‘nay’. Although, those against the system won, the exercise
induced more protests from some members, some of who got up and moved to the
front to complain to Mr Bankole and his deputy, Usman Nafada who jointly
presided.

In the ensuing confusion, five staff from the serjeant-at-arms
were immediately deployed to protect the mace, the House symbol of authority.
Pleas by the Speaker, the chief whip, Emeka Ihedioha and his deputy, Aminu
Tambuwwal failed to calm the rowdy lawmakers or make them return to their
seats.

Complaining members

Bordered about the turmoil, Mr Bankole asked members who did
not come with their electronic voting cards to raise up their hands at the end
of which only about five of them indicated so.

“We’ve tried voice vote, members are complaining; we’ve divided
the House, members are complaining. Before I go to the next level, if you know
you are two-party system, move to my left, if you know you are for multi-party,
move to my right.” This infuriated the aggrieved members who shouted “No! No!
No!” While some members of the opposition shouted “two-party system! two-party
system!” others, apparently members of the PDP shouted “multi-party!
multi-party! Calls for ‘Point of Order’ by Sani Saleh Minjibir (ANPP, Kano) and
one other unidentified member were rebuffed by the Speaker.

Support for lawmakers

The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) yesterday praised the
decision of the House. The group, in a statement signed by its publicity
secretary, Yinka Odumakin, said the only way to regulate political parties is
to allow the electorates to decide.