Former presidential candidate and political figure Peter Obi joined hundreds of young activists, civil society groups and pro-democracy demonstrators on Monday at the National Assembly to protest lawmakers’ recent decision on election reform legislation.
The protest, organised under the banner “Occupy National Assembly,” was sparked by the Senate’s rejection of a proposed amendment to the country’s Electoral Act that would have required real-time electronic transmission of election results, a measure critics argue is critical for transparency and integrity in future elections.
Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, addressed the crowd at the National Assembly’s entrance, urging lawmakers to reconsider the amendment and maintain public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He described the Senate’s removal of the electronic transmission clause as a setback for democratic transparency.
Protesters held placards and chanted calls for stronger electoral safeguards, while a significant security presence including police and military personnel was deployed around the legislature complex to maintain order.
Civil society organisations and activist groups involved in the demonstration have long opposed the Senate’s decision, saying that without mandatory electronic result transmission there is a greater risk of manipulation and reduced confidence in election outcomes, particularly ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
