Manny Ita –
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi on Monday afternoon joined hundreds of demonstrators at the National Assembly complex in Abuja to protest the Senate’s recent decision to remove mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results from the Electoral Act. The protest, tagged #OccupyNASS, has seen civil society organizations and youth groups blockade the entrance to the legislative building, demanding that lawmakers restore the transparency provisions ahead of the 2027 general elections. While addressing the crowd amidst heavy security presence, Obi emphasized that the demand for electronic transmission is a quest for basic accountability. “Allow the election to go through the normal process,” Obi told the protesters. “Whatever the outcome is, let it be transparent; that is all Nigerians are asking for.”
The demonstration follows an emergency recall of senators for a plenary session scheduled for Tuesday, a move many believe is intended to manage the growing public backlash against the amendment. The “Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria” (MOT!ON), which helped organize the rally, has vowed that the sit-in will continue until the Senate leadership provides a categorical commitment to reversing the controversial vote. “We are not here for politics; we are here for the soul of our democracy,” a lead organizer remarked. “If the people cannot trust the transmission of their votes, they cannot trust the government that emerges from them.”
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Civil Defence, have established a multi-layered cordon around the Three Arms Zone to prevent the protest from spilling into the legislative chambers. Despite the tension, the atmosphere remained largely peaceful as of 1:00 PM, with demonstrators chanting and waving placards that read “Electronic Transmission is Non-Negotiable” and “Save Our 2027 Polls.” A spokesperson for the Senate President has called for calm, stating that the “Senate remains a listening institution,” though no official timeline for a re-vote on the clause has been provided.
