By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
FORMER Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Monday led a mass protest at the National Assembly complex over the Senate’s rejection of a proposed amendment to the Electoral Act seeking to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
The demonstration, tagged “Occupy NASS,” attracted civil society organisations (CSOs) and pro-democracy activists who called on lawmakers to reverse the decision in the interest of credible elections and democratic accountability.
The protest comes as Nigerians await the outcome of the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives tasked with harmonising the Electoral Act amendment bills.
Addressing the crowd, Obi described the Senate’s action as a “grave setback to Nigeria’s democratic progress,” warning that it could erode public trust in the electoral process, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The refusal to make electronic transmission of results compulsory is a serious threat to the credibility of our electoral process,” Obi said. “We witnessed during the 2023 general elections how the lack of transparent result transmission fuelled controversies and disputes.”
The Senate had earlier rejected the proposal, citing concerns about possible technical failures and infrastructural challenges across the country. Obi, however, dismissed the justification, insisting that such arguments were no longer tenable.
“Several African countries have successfully adopted electronic transmission of election results,” he noted. “If they can do it, Nigeria can also do it. Technology should be deployed to strengthen, not weaken, our democracy.”
The protest has continued to gather momentum, with various civil society groups amplifying calls for comprehensive electoral reforms aimed at guaranteeing transparency, credibility and accountability.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a warning that it may mobilise nationwide protests and even consider election boycotts should the Senate fail to revisit its decision on electronic transmission of election results.
What's your reaction?
