As protests erupt across Nigeria over the controversial amendment to the Electoral Act, the Senate has pledged to address the concerns raised by critics during an emergency plenary scheduled for today.
The protests, led by civil society groups and political movements, have drawn attention to the removal of the term “real-time” from provisions regarding the electronic transmission of election results, a change they argue could undermine the credibility of future elections.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, confirmed that the Senate is not opposed to public criticism, acknowledging the right of Nigerians to voice their concerns peacefully. He emphasized that the Senate, as a representative body, is committed to addressing issues that affect the democratic process.
“The Senate is not averse to Nigerians showing their feelings. We are in a democracy, and people have the right to express themselves peacefully,” Adaramodu stated. “We will be having an emergency sitting tomorrow to resolve the matter and ensure that we continue to serve the people of Nigeria,” he assured.
The protests, tagged “Occupy the National Assembly,” reached a boiling point as hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the National Assembly complex in Abuja. The rally was organized by the Obidient Movement and supported by other pro-democracy groups, including the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and prominent figures such as former Nigerian Bar Association President, Olisa Agbakoba.
The protesters are demanding that the National Assembly explicitly enshrine real-time electronic transmission of election results into the law. The deletion of the phrase “real-time” from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill has been a contentious issue, with critics arguing that it leaves room for ambiguity and potential manipulation during election result collation.
Protests were further fueled by the presence of Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, who joined the demonstrators. Obi, who is seen as a symbol of Nigeria’s youth-driven political shift, criticized lawmakers for undermining the integrity of the electoral process.
“Elections must be free, fair, and credible. We cannot allow the manipulation of results in future elections,” Obi said at the protest, calling for stronger laws to ensure that results are transmitted electronically in real-time to prevent fraud.
The debate over the amendment has raised questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral framework. Critics argue that the removal of real-time transmission contradicts previous reforms aimed at improving transparency in the electoral process, such as the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the card reader system.
Prominent civil society organizations (CSOs), including Yiaga Africa, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, and TAF Africa, have warned that any failure to resolve the dispute over electronic transmission could jeopardize the credibility of the 2027 general elections. They are urging the Senate to align its position with the House of Representatives, which has supported mandatory, real-time transmission.
“The Senate’s decision not to make real-time transmission mandatory creates an environment ripe for distrust,” said Dr. Jake Epelle, founder of The Albino Foundation, who spoke on behalf of the coalition of CSOs. “We are deeply concerned that this delay and lack of clarity could undermine preparations for the 2027 elections,” he added.
Security forces, including the police, army, and civil defense, were deployed around the National Assembly to manage the large crowd. Barricades were set up to prevent protesters from entering the premises, but the demonstrations continued throughout the day.
The protesters, many of whom were youth groups, carried placards with slogans like “Our votes must count” and “No to electoral robbery.” They vowed to continue pressuring lawmakers until their demand for explicit real-time electronic transmission is reflected in the final amendment to the Electoral Act.
Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, declared, “If there is no electronic transmission, there will be no election. The credibility of our elections is at stake, and we will not back down until the law reflects the demands of the people.”
The ongoing conflict between the Senate and the House of Representatives over the amendment has brought to light the growing divisions within the Nigerian legislature. While the House has advocated for the inclusion of mandatory electronic transmission, the Senate has expressed hesitation, citing concerns over INEC’s capacity to handle such a task effectively.
However, this division is worrying many political observers, including former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Chief Peter Ameh, who said that the Senate’s current stance is a betrayal of Nigerians’ aspirations for credible elections. “The refusal to mandate real-time transmission is a failure to protect the integrity of our democracy,” Ameh remarked.
The legal uncertainty surrounding the amendment has raised fears that it could delay preparations for the 2027 general elections. The Nigerian Electoral Act 2022, while a step forward in some respects, is still seen as inadequate in terms of fully ensuring the transparency of the electoral process.
Human rights lawyer Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, emphasized that the lack of statutory backing for real-time electronic transmission has already caused problems in previous elections. He referred to the Supreme Court ruling that dismissed the legal force of INEC’s electronic transmission initiative in the 2023 elections due to the absence of explicit legal provisions.
“The 2023 elections exposed critical gaps in our electoral framework. If we do not fix these gaps now, we will continue to face disputed elections and protracted legal battles,” Agbakoba warned.
The coming days will be critical as the Senate attempts to reconcile with the House and address the growing concerns of Nigerians.