Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Tensions rose at the National Assembly complex in Abuja as scores of demonstrators, led by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, gathered to protest a recent amendment to Nigeria’s Electoral Act that removed the phrase “real-time” from provisions concerning the electronic transmission of election results.
The protest, held at the entrance of the National Assembly of Nigeria, drew heightened security presence as demonstrators demanded the immediate reinstatement of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results. Civil society groups argue that the amendment weakens safeguards introduced after the 2023 elections to enhance transparency and reduce manipulation in the collation process.
Video footage circulating online showed Sowore confronting security personnel stationed at the complex gate. In a direct exchange with a police officer, he asserted what he described as citizens’ constitutional right to access public institutions. He stated that lawmakers must prioritize restoring explicit real-time transmission provisions or risk continued civic pressure once plenary resumes.
Sowore argued that transparency in result transmission is central to public trust in the electoral system. He maintained that removing the “real-time” clause introduces ambiguity that could allow delays or discretionary interpretation during collation, potentially undermining confidence in the 2027 general elections.
The protest followed a Senate decision to amend sections of the Electoral Act relating to electronic transmission. While the law continues to recognize electronic transmission of results, critics contend that the deletion of the term “real-time” represents a dilution of earlier reform efforts designed to ensure immediate upload of polling unit results to the central server of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Supporters of the amendment within the legislature have argued that the change provides operational flexibility and aligns statutory language with technological and logistical realities observed during previous election cycles. They maintain that electronic transmission remains intact and that concerns about transparency are overstated.
Civil society coalitions and pro-democracy advocates disagree, describing the development as a potential rollback of accountability mechanisms. They contend that precise legislative wording is critical in electoral matters, where procedural clarity can determine the integrity of outcomes.
Security at the protest site was visibly reinforced, with police officers forming barricades near the main gate. The Nigeria Police Force had earlier indicated that peaceful protests would be protected, in line with constitutional guarantees of freedom of assembly. However, law enforcement officials have also referenced court directives regulating protest locations within the Federal Capital Territory, citing concerns over public order and safety.
The demonstration remained largely peaceful, though the atmosphere was charged. Protesters carried placards calling for “transparent elections” and “defend electoral integrity,” while chanting slogans urging lawmakers to reverse the amendment.
Analysts observe that the controversy reflects broader anxieties surrounding Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of 2027. Following contentious outcomes in previous election cycles, electronic transmission of results emerged as a key reform demand among voters and civic organizations. Any perceived weakening of that reform is likely to generate sustained scrutiny.
Legal experts note that any further modification to the Electoral Act would require passage by both chambers of the National Assembly and presidential assent. They add that judicial interpretation may also play a role if litigation arises over the scope and intent of the amended provisions.
As lawmakers prepare for subsequent legislative sessions, pressure from advocacy groups is expected to intensify. Whether the amendment will be revisited remains uncertain, but the protest underscores the centrality of electoral credibility in Nigeria’s evolving democratic discourse.
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