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A former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, joined demonstrators at the National Assembly in Abuja on Monday to protest the Senate’s removal of “real-time” electronic transmission of election results from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The protest, tagged “Occupy the National Assembly,” was organised by members of the Obidient Movement and pro-democracy activists, who accused lawmakers of undermining electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 elections.
Last week, the Senate passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, but deleted the phrase “real-time” from provisions on electronic transmission of results. Critics argue this weakens safeguards against manipulation. While the Senate insists it did not reject electronic transmission outright, protesters say the omission opens the door to abuse.
Carrying placards with slogans like “Our votes must count” and “Protect democracy now,” demonstrators marched to the National Assembly but were blocked at the gates by heavy security from the police, army, and civil defence corps.
Speaking to journalists, Obi condemned what he described as the erosion of democratic gains, warning that credible elections are vital for national stability. “We must dismantle this criminality and prove that we are now a nation that shows light in Africa,” he said, urging lawmakers to mandate electronic transmission of results.
His presence energized the crowd, many of whom view him as a symbol of the youth-driven political awakening of 2023. Obidient Movement coordinator Dr. Yunusa Tanko vowed the agitation would continue until “real-time” transmission is restored, warning that without it, elections would lack credibility.
Civil society groups have long argued that electronic transmission is essential to prevent manual interference during collation, a problem that has plagued past elections. Reforms such as card readers in 2015 and BVAS in 2022 were hailed as steps toward transparency, but activists insist real-time transmission remains the missing safeguard.
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