Former Rivers State governor and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday joined protesters at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, calling for the compulsory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
Amaechi’s appearance followed rising controversy surrounding the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly over whether the Independent National Electoral Commission should be legally required to transmit results electronically and in real time from polling units.
In a video that has gained traction on social media and was shared by X user #ImranMuhammed, Amaechi was seen standing with demonstrators as they urged lawmakers to accede to their demands.
The protesters, made up of members of civil society organisations, youth groups and other concerned citizens, insisted that the proposed law must explicitly retain the phrase “real-time electronic transmission” to remove any ambiguity that could weaken electoral transparency and credibility.
The demonstration also drew widespread attention online after some protesters were spotted carrying mattresses and pillows to the National Assembly complex, a move widely interpreted as a symbolic signal of their readiness to remain at the venue until their demands were met.
The protest comes a day after a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, also joined similar demonstrations at the National Assembly, lending his voice to calls for a more credible and transparent electoral system.
While a growing number of Nigerians and civil society actors continue to press the National Assembly to make real-time electronic transmission of results mandatory, some lawmakers have argued that the provision should remain optional, citing logistical challenges and infrastructural constraints in parts of the country.
The Senate has, however, consistently denied claims that it rejected electronic transmission of election results during the amendment process, issuing repeated clarifications to counter what it described as misinformation about its stance.
The renewed protest underscores increasing public pressure on the legislature to amend the bill in a way that guarantees transparent collation and transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What you should know
The push for real-time electronic transmission of election results has become a central issue in Nigeria’s electoral reform debate ahead of the 2027 polls.
Supporters argue that mandating real-time transmission from polling units would curb manipulation during collation and strengthen public trust in elections. Critics within the legislature maintain that poor network coverage and logistical limitations make such a requirement impractical nationwide.
The growing involvement of prominent political figures like Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi reflects heightened public scrutiny and signals that electoral credibility will remain a major political flashpoint in the lead-up to the next general elections.
