Isaac Samuel
Former Anambra State governor and presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, on Monday led his supporters and members of the Civil Society Organisations on a protest to thee National Assembly in Abuja against the Senate’s rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment to the Electoral Act.
The demonstrators, operating under the banner “Occupy National Assembly,” gathered at the entrance of the federal legislature to express displeasure over the Senate’s decision to discard provisions that would have made electronic transmission of results compulsory.
Security was visibly tightened around the complex, with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps stationed at strategic points leading to the Assembly.
The protest attracted a broad coalition of civil society groups, youth organisations and persons with disabilities, all demanding a more transparent, technology-driven and credible electoral process.
Obi joined the protest and led a group of demonstrators in a march toward the National Assembly to press for a reconsideration of the contentious provision in the amendment bill.
However, access to the complex was restricted as security operatives shut the gates of the National Assembly, preventing Obi and other protesters from gaining entry.
The protesters insisted that compulsory electronic transmission of election results remains crucial to curbing electoral malpractice and strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s elections.
Many carried placards with inscriptions such as “No to Electoral Manipulation,” and “Pass Electronic Transmission into Law.”
The development followed the Senate’s decision last Wednesday to reject an amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which sought to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
The protesters accused the National Assembly of attempting to weaken the electoral process through the amendment and maintained that any review of the Electoral Act should enhance transparency, credibility and trust in Nigeria’s democratic system.
While speaking, Obi told journalists that Nigerians would not allow the ‘glitch’ that happened in 2023 to repeat itself.
“Simple transmission. It’s not a difficult thing. Allow the elections to go through the normal process.”
He added, “Whoever wins will accept. So why are you bringing all this confusion?”
Obi noted fresh public pressure after lawmakers moved to hold an emergency session.
“Last week, they protested. And last night, the Senate issued a statement saying that they are going to have an emergency parliamentary session. Tomorrow, doesn’t that make a difference?” he asked.
He said himself and all Nigerians want the Senate to act, and insisted organisers will keep pushing.
“That’s what we are trying to make sure — they make that difference,” Obi said.
He also warned that political parties were slow to act, saying, “But the political parties are lagging behind.”
Obi urged peaceful pressure rather than violence. “We are working. We are doing that,” he said, and called for continued public attention to the reforms
