Obi Leads NASS Protest, Demands Real-Time E-Transmit of Results

Patrick Isaac

Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi joined civil society groups and persons living with disabilities on Monday in a noisy protest at the National Assembly gate, demanding the Senate pass an Electoral Act Amendment Bill that mandates real‑time electronic transmission of election results.

Blocked by security from entering NASS, the coalition waved placards with slogans like “Akpabio don’t destroy our democracy,” “Say no to electoral fraud,” “The Senate must prioritise citizens over politics,” and “The conference committee must protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electronic system.”

They insist electronic transmission is key to avoiding the glitches and controversies that scarred the 2023 polls.

Aside from Obi, human rights activists such as Aisha Yesufu of the Bring Back Our Girls movement were on the ground, alongside students, civil society groups, members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Obidient Movement.

They accused the Senate of backing away from transparency after the conference committee reduced INEC’s notice of election window from 360 to 180 days and abandoned real‑time result transmission in favour of preserving the 2022 electoral framework.

Under that 2022 framework, presiding officers only transfer results after signing Form EC8A, treating electronic transfer as a flexible, Commission‑guided option instead of a binding duty tied directly to IReV.

Civil society says that structure keeps the door open to rigging and delays, and they are warning the Senate not to let political calculations override citizens’ demand for credible, verifiable elections.