Tension as Peter Obi, other protesters storm National Assembly over demand for electronic transmission of election results

Tension rose in Abuja on Monday as protesters gathered at the National Assembly complex for what has been tagged the “Occupy National Assembly” demonstration, calling for transparency and clarity on the electronic transmission of election results.

The demonstrators, made up of civil society groups, activists, and concerned citizens, said their protest was aimed at demanding firm commitments from lawmakers regarding the use of technology to safeguard Nigeria’s electoral process. According to them, electronic transmission of results remains a critical step toward curbing electoral malpractice and restoring public trust in elections.

Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, the protesters insisted that any attempt to weaken or remove the provision for electronic result transmission would undermine democracy and the credibility of future polls.

Meanwhile, security was visibly tightened around the National Assembly premises. Personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were strategically deployed to maintain order and prevent any breakdown of law and order.

The protesters insist that lawmakers must explicitly include “real-time electronic transmission” in the Electoral Act amendment, despite the Senate issuing several clarifications over its position.

Former Anambra State governor and presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, was also present at the protest, leading a group of demonstrators in a march toward the National Assembly to demand changes to the proposed Electoral Act.

The demonstrations are part of wider public concern following the upper chamber’s decision to retain the existing framework for results transmission.

Authorities and organisers are yet to release further updates on the protest.