Protesters converged on the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Monday.
Their demands? Simple.
They demanded clarity and accountability over the Senate’s handling of provisions on electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment of Nigeria’s Electoral Act.
The demonstrators gathered at the entrance of the legislative complex.
They insisted that lawmakers make electronic transmission of election results mandatory in the amended law.
According to them, recent actions and statements from the Senate suggest a reluctance to clearly commit to real-time electronic transmission, a move they believe is critical to credible elections.
The protest followed widespread reports that the upper chamber had removed or watered down clauses mandating electronic transmission of results.
Now, here’s where things get interesting.
The Senate has since denied rejecting the provision.
Explanations have been issued to counter the allegations.
However, protesters maintained that the law must explicitly state “real-time electronic transmission”.
This is to prevent ambiguity and future manipulation.
Tight Security
Security was visibly tightened around the National Assembly as the protest unfolded. Officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed to maintain order and prevent any breakdown of law and security.
The demonstration comes amid growing pressure from civil society groups and organised labour. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that continued uncertainty over the amendment could trigger nationwide protests or even a boycott of future elections.
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In a statement released on Sunday, NLC President Joe Ajaero cautioned that the Senate’s perceived inconsistencies could erode public trust in the electoral process, adding that a credible democracy depends on transparent and technologically enabled elections.