The Senate has said it is not opposed to public criticism or peaceful protests over its handling of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, assuring Nigerians that concerns surrounding the removal of the phrase “real-time” from provisions on electronic transmission of election results will be addressed at an emergency plenary sitting scheduled for today.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, gave the assurance yesterday as hundreds of protesters converged on the National Assembly complex in Abuja, demanding that lawmakers explicitly provide for mandatory, real-time electronic transmission of election results in the amended law.
Adaramodu said Nigerians have a constitutional right to express their grievances peacefully, describing such actions as a vital part of democratic engagement.
“The Senate is not averse to Nigerians showing their feelings. We are in a democracy, and people have the right to express themselves peacefully,” he said.
He explained that the emergency plenary would focus on considering and approving the votes and proceedings of last Wednesday’s sitting, during which the controversial amendment was passed.
“As a Senate, we are not opposed to peaceful expressions of opinion. We will continue to do what we have been elected to do in the best interest of Nigerians,” he added.
The assurance came amid heightened tension around the National Assembly following a protest tagged “Occupy the National Assembly,” organised by the Obidient Movement in collaboration with several pro-democracy and civil society groups.
The protesters accused lawmakers of deliberately weakening Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections by deleting the words “real-time” from provisions dealing with electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026.
Carrying placards bearing messages such as “Our votes must count,” “No to electoral robbery,” and “Protect democracy now,” the demonstrators insisted that anything short of an explicit and mandatory real-time transmission clause would leave room for manipulation during result collation.
They vowed to sustain pressure on lawmakers until their demand is reflected verbatim in the final version of the bill.
The protesters, drawn from civil society organisations, youth groups and political movements, gathered early at the main entrance of the National Assembly, arguing that ambiguity in the law would undermine public confidence in future elections.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, later joined the protest, further drawing national attention to the agitation. Many demonstrators described his presence as symbolic of the youth-driven political awakening witnessed during the 2023 general elections.
Addressing journalists, Obi warned against a gradual erosion of democratic gains, describing credible elections as the foundation of national stability and development.
“We must dismantle this criminality and prove that we are now a nation that shows light in Africa,” he said.
He urged the National Assembly to enact laws that clearly mandate electronic transmission of election results, warning against a repeat of controversies that have trailed previous elections.
“We have suffered these dangers before. We don’t want any glitch again. This must end,” Obi stated.
Also speaking, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, said the agitation would continue until real-time electronic transmission of results is restored in the amended law.
“If there is no electronic transmission of results, there will be no election. Our elections must be credible,” Tanko said.
He noted that past elections were marred by manual interference during collation, a problem electronic transmission was meant to address following reforms introduced after the 2011 and 2015 polls.
Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society organisations warned that legal uncertainty surrounding the Electoral Act amendments could undermine preparations for the 2027 general elections. At a joint briefing in Abuja, the groups urged the conference committee of the Senate and House of Representatives to adopt provisions mandating real-time electronic transmission of results, downloadable voter cards for missing PVCs, and retention of existing electoral timelines.
The coalition also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the timetable for the 2027 general elections in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, stressing that the current law remains operative until amended.
In a separate statement, the Nigerian Guild of Editors cautioned that the Senate’s position on electronic transmission of results was already breeding doubt and mistrust among Nigerians, warning that failure to mandate immediate transmission could discourage voter participation.
Similarly, the Movement for Credible Elections warned that without far-reaching reforms, the 2027 general elections could be seriously at risk, citing recurring challenges such as electoral violence, vote buying, weak logistics and manipulation during collation.
Prominent legal practitioner, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, also urged the National Assembly to seize what he described as a historic opportunity to resolve persistent legal uncertainty by enshrining mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act, noting that past court rulings have exposed gaps in the existing legal framework.
Civil society groups and political stakeholders have continued to insist that anything short of a clear, mandatory provision for real-time electronic transmission would undermine electoral integrity and public trust in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Senate Promises Emergency Sitting as Protests Mount Over Real-Time Transmission Clause in Electoral Bill
