Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi led a group of protesters to the National Assembly Complex in Abuja to oppose the Senate’s rejection of real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The demonstrators included student and civil society groups, members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Obidient Movement, a coalition of Obi supporters.
The rally, which took place on Monday at the National Assembly gate, was prompted by the Senate’s recent passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026.
During the third reading, lawmakers removed the explicit phrase “real-time” from provisions on electronic transmission of results.
Branded under the Occupy National Assembly banner, the protest saw Obi at the forefront, dressed in black, marching alongside demonstrators carrying placards demanding the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic result transmission in the ongoing Electoral Act amendments.
Protesters repeatedly chanted calls to “pass the bill,” with some warning they would “shut the National Assembly down” if their demands for compulsory electronic uploads to INEC’s portal were not met.
Addressing the crowd, Obi said, “Simple transmission. Allow the elections to proceed normally; whoever wins, we’ll accept. Why are you causing confusion?”
He further emphasized that safeguards must be in place to prevent glitches like those reported by INEC in 2023 and called for real-time electronic transmission to be made mandatory to restore public confidence and prevent future manipulations.
The former Anambra governor reiterated that such explicit legal mandates are crucial to rebuild voter trust and ensure electoral integrity.
The demonstration follows earlier condemnations from Obi and allied coalitions, who described the Senate’s decision as outrageous, shameful, and a potential threat to Nigeria’s democracy, heightening tensions as the upper chamber scheduled an emergency plenary in response to growing public outcry.
