Presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, on Monday, joined hundreds of protesters at the National Assembly complex in Abuja in a dramatic show of defiance against what demonstrators described as a fresh attempt to rig the 2027 elections through the backdoor.
The protest, branded “Occupy the National Assembly,” was triggered by Senate’s controversial decision to delete the phrase “real-time” from provisions on electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, a move critics insisted fatally weakened safeguards against post-election manipulation.
Obi’s sudden appearance electrified the crowd as demonstrators, drawn largely from the Obidient Movement, civil society organisations, and pro-democracy groups, besieged the National Assembly complex, chanting protest songs and brandishing placards reading, “Our Votes Must Count,” “No to Electoral Robbery,” and “Protect Democracy Now.”
Security operatives from the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps mounted a heavy barricade at the complex, preventing the protesters from gaining access and forcing them to stage their demonstration outside the main gates.
Addressing journalists amid the charged atmosphere, Obi warned that Nigeria was sliding dangerously backwards. He accused the political elite of nurturing “electoral criminality” that threatened national stability.
“We must dismantle this criminality and prove that Nigeria can still show light in Africa,” Obi declared, stressing that credible elections remained the bedrock of development, unity and peace.
National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, vowed that the protests would continue until the National Assembly explicitly restored real-time electronic transmission of results in the law.
“If there is no electronic transmission of results, there will be no election,” Tanko warned, saying, “Our elections must be credible.”
Popular activist, Randy Peters, also accused the political class of betraying democratic ideals, invoking the spirit of the June 12, 1993 election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest.
“Do we have democrats who are afraid of losing elections?” Peters asked, saying, “In 2027, our votes must count. Tomorrow, we will be back here.”
Tension enveloped the National Assembly as protesters massed at the entrance under tight security, following a call to action by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who urged Nigerians to resist what he described as a calculated attempt to compromise future elections.
Agbakoba Backs Call on NASS to Enshrine Real-time Transmission of Results
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, threw his weight behind growing calls for the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to make electronic transmission of election results in real-time mandatory ahead of the 2027 general election. Agbakoba warned that failure to do so would sustain electoral disputes and weaken democratic credibility.
Agbakoba, in a statement, said Nigeria’s electoral framework had continued to suffer from legal uncertainties that repeatedly shifted the determination of election outcomes from voters to the courts.
He stressed that the country’s practice of amending the Electoral Act after each election cycle without addressing core structural gaps had only prolonged electoral controversies.
Agbakoba stated, “Nigeria’s electoral framework has been plagued by persistent legal uncertainty, forcing courts to determine election outcomes. This uncertainty stems from a fundamental failure: the absence of strong regulatory processes backed by express statutory authority.
“With every election cycle, we rush to amend the Electoral Act. Yet we continue to grapple with the same challenges leading to continued rounds of amendments. This vicious cycle must end.”
The former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) pointed to the 2023 general election as a clear example of the consequences of weak legal backing for electoral innovations.
He stated that although INEC deployed the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal to enhance transparency through electronic transmission, the Supreme Court ruled that the platform lacked statutory force.
“The court held that because electronic transmission is not expressly provided by the Electoral Act 2022, appearing only in INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines, it is not legally binding,” he recalled.
Agbakoba further quoted the apex court as holding that the IReV portal was created mainly for public viewing and could not serve as admissible evidence in election petitions.
“And that the IReV portal serves merely for public viewing and is not admissible evidence of results in election petitions. The message was unmistakable: without explicit statutory provision, electronic transmission remains optional and legally inconsequential, no matter how transparent or efficient it may be,” he said.
Agbakoba stated that the lack of statutory clarity had created enormous evidentiary hurdles for petitioners challenging election outcomes in court.
He referenced the late Justice Pat Acholonu’s remarks in Buhari v. Obasanjo (2005), where the jurist expressed doubt about the feasibility of successfully challenging a presidential election result.
NGE Shocked at Senate’s Decision
Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) expressed concern over the controversy surrounding Senate’s position on the transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general election.
NGE said, “This development is already creating room for doubt and mistrust in the electoral process among Nigerians.
“The uncertainty arising from the Senate’s adoption of provisions in the proposed 2022 Electoral Act—allowing for the transmission of election results without making it mandatory and immediate—runs contrary to the widely held position of most Nigerians and many lawmakers.
“The resulting public outrage has pitted citizens against the Senate and could potentially discourage voter participation in future elections.”
The group stated, “At a time when Nigerians are calling for mandatory and immediate transmission of election results from polling units to central collation centres—and as countries across the world adopt electronic transmission as part of electoral reforms to enhance transparency—the Senate’s position leaves much to be desired.
“To say the least, this stance represents a missed opportunity to strengthen transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process. It undermines ongoing efforts to deepen democratic governance and ensure credible elections.”
Globally, NGE stated, mandatory electronic transmission of election results had become a standard for improving electoral credibility and efficiency.
It stated, “Nigeria should not be an exception. As the Senate reconvenes tomorrow (February 10, 2026), to harmonise its position with that of the House of Representatives, the National Assembly still has an opportunity to uphold the highest standards of electoral integrity by approving mandatory and immediate transmission of election results from polling units to the INEC central server and collation centres.
“Such a decision would lay a solid foundation for free and fair elections and help deepen democracy.”
NGE also said, “The digitalisation of elections—anchored on real-time transmission of results—will enhance transparency, efficiency, accuracy, and voter confidence. It will also streamline election result management, reduce disputes, minimise controversies, and significantly curb electoral fraud.
“Electoral reforms, when combined with digital innovation, strengthen democratic processes and boost public trust. Making the transmission of election results mandatory and immediate is therefore critical to achieving credible elections in Nigeria.”
The organisation said, “Nigerians are watching the National Assembly closely on this issue. We expect that, in the harmonised provisions of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the transmission of election results from polling units to INEC central servers and collation centres will be made mandatory and immediate.
“Anything short of this will be out of step with contemporary and progressive electoral practices. Mandatory and immediate transmission of election results will not only enhance free and fair elections but also give Nigerians the confidence that their votes will truly count.”
HURIWA Backs Peaceful Mass Protests, Declares 2027 Elections Will Be Rubbished
Human Right Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed shock at Senate’s rejection of amendment to the electoral law to mandate INEC to implement real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said it backed the mass protest demanding immediate inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of results.
HURIWA called on the police not to disrupt the peaceful protests and urged Nigerians participating in any protest to maintain decorum and be peaceful.
HURIWA admonished Senate President Godswill Akpabio not to view the overwhelming popular demand of the people for the inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results as a confrontation or an intimidation directed against the National Assembly.
Instead, it said the lawmakers must welcome the advocacy for a robust electoral governing law that would create the enabling environment for the election managers to conduct unimpeded, free and fair elections going forward.
HURIWA condemned the decision of the senate to maintain the old order of election conduct, which it said gave room for election mismanagement and heist.
HURIWA recalled that citizens and members of the civil society, including HURIWA, were converging on Abuja for the “Occupy National Assembly” protest against the rejection of e-transmission of election results by the senate.
It stated, “We warn that on no account should lethal force be used against peaceful protesters as have been done many times in the past under the current administration just as HURIWA has put President Donald John Trump on special notice to caution Nigerian government not to shoot at peaceful civilian protesters.”
Group: Senate Threatening Our Democracy
A civil society group, Leadership Orientation and Basic Rights Advocacy Centre (LOBRAC), accused the senate of threatening Nigeria’s democracy through its votes in the amendment of the Electoral Act.
The group, in a statement by its Executive Director, Stanley Okafor, and National Secretary, Franklin Asiegbu, called on the 10th Senate to save Nigeria’s democracy by approving amendments to Clause 10 Section 3 of the proposed Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which sought to compel real-time electronic transmission of election results.
In the statement, the group said the issue of electronic transmission of election results, as currently contemplated by the relevant section of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, stood at the bedrock of efforts at solidification of Nigeria’s democratic credentials.
LOBRAC said, “Any attempt to thwart approval of that essential provision would amount to dangerous plunder of Nigeria’s democracy.
“It is alarming that the upper house of the National Assembly has chosen to toy with the aspirations of millions of Nigerians for election credibility by avoiding such essential amendment.
“The matter, which the Supreme Court of Nigeria had poignantly alluded to following litigation in the aftermath of the 2023 presidential election, ought to be seriously reviewed with a view to avoiding its repetitive loopholes.”
The group explained, “Section. 60 of the current Electoral Act stipulates manual recording of election results from polling units, and thereafter transfer of the results, and sub section 5 thereof confers discretion on INEC on the mode of conducting such transfer, and Nigerians are therefore united in rejecting that discretion which INEC currently enjoys and which has caused serious dent on outcomes of our elections.
“INEC must be compelled by law to transmit election results by electronic means from the polling units, and Senate’s avoidance of that essential amendment is a pivotal threat to our democracy.”
The group vowed to join all well-meaning Nigerians, including labour unions, in persuading the upper chamber of the National Assembly to bow to the collective wish of Nigerians on this important matter.
Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Aborisade, John Shiklam, Sunday Ehigiator, David-Chyddy Eleke, Yemi Kosoko and Laleye Dipo
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