People's Movement Demands Full Transparency: Protesters Insist on Mandatory Real-Time Electronic Transmission of Election Results at National Assembly

On Monday, a coalition of progressive protesters gathered outside the National Assembly in Abuja, united in their demand for the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results in the 2026 Electoral Act Amendment Bill. These demonstrators, representing civil society organizations like Situation Room and ActionAid Nigeria, called for an end to outdated, easily manipulated manual result collation, which has historically enabled the political elite to undermine the will of the people.

The protest, reignited after a five-day pause prompted by hollow promises from lawmakers, faced heavy-handed security measures as authorities restricted access to the National Assembly complex. Undeterred, the demonstrators continued their action at the gates, refusing to be silenced by state power.

Recently, the Senate revisited Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. In a move seen as an attempt to water down transparency, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno proposed stripping the bill of the term 'real-time' and replacing 'transmission' with the weaker 'transfer.' This maneuver was met with resistance from senators like Enyinnaya Abaribe, who stood with the people's demand for accountability. Despite this, the Senate only approved electronic transmission to the INEC Result Viewing Portal while shamefully preserving manual collation as a backup, leaving the door open to manipulation under the guise of 'technical issues.'

The Senate is set to reconvene on Tuesday, February 17, at 11 a.m. to address further national matters. Protesters have pledged to sustain their pressure, vowing not to relent until the bill guarantees real-time electronic transmission of election results and the people's voice is truly heard.