BY UCHECHI OKPORIE
Hundreds of demonstrators clashed with heavy security at the National Assembly complex in Nigeria’s capital on Monday, demanding that lawmakers enshrine real-time electronic transmission of election results into law.
Organised under the banner “Occupy National Assembly”, the protest was sparked by widespread frustration over the Senate’s recent decision not to make the electronic transmission of results from polling units mandatory in the ongoing amendment of the country’s electoral law.
The development, critics say, undermines electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections. They believe that Nigerian lawmakers tactically turn it down to allegedly pave way for their unfettered victory at the polls.
Demonstrators, including youth activists, civil society members, women groups and opposition supporters, gathered at the gates of the legislature in the early morning hours, calling on lawmakers to reverse course and explicitly guarantee the technological reform.
Security forces, including officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, were deployed in significant numbers to maintain order.
Prominent activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore urged Nigerians to join the demonstration, warning that failing to adopt mandatory real-time electronic result transmission would erode public confidence in the country’s democracy.
The protest reflects broader national tensions over electoral reform, following objections from labour groups and civil rights organisations that the Senate’s move could weaken electoral integrity by preserving older, non-digital methods of result reporting.
Lawmakers are expected to continue negotiations on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill before it is finalised and sent to the president for assent.
