Protesters on Monday took their demands to the gates of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, calling on federal lawmakers to clearly mandate real-time electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
The demonstrators, drawn from various civil society groups and pro-democracy advocates, gathered early at the entrance of the complex, insisting that the controversy surrounding the Senate’s position on electronic transmission must be resolved without ambiguity.
They said Nigerians deserve a law that leaves no room for manipulation of election results.
The protest followed reports that the Senate rejected a clause that would make electronic transmission of results compulsory. Although the upper chamber has since issued statements clarifying that it did not oppose electronic transmission and that its position was being misinterpreted, the protesters argued that verbal assurances were not enough.
According to them, the amended law must explicitly include the phrase “real-time electronic transmission” to guarantee transparency and restore public confidence in the electoral process. They warned that vague provisions could be exploited to undermine credible elections in the future.
As the protest unfolded, security was visibly tightened around the National Assembly.
Personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed in large numbers to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Despite the heavy security presence, the demonstration remained largely peaceful.
The protesters urged lawmakers to listen to the voices of citizens and ensure that the final version of the Electoral Act amendment reflects the will of the people, stressing that credible elections are central to Nigeria’s democracy.
