Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, on Monday joined protesters at the National Assembly in Abuja under the banner of the Occupy National Assembly demonstration.
The protest was triggered by the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026 at third reading, during which lawmakers removed the phrase “real-time” from provisions relating to the electronic transmission of election results.
Despite repeated explanations from the Senate countering claims that it rejected electronic transmission of results, demonstrators insist that the proposed law must clearly spell out “real-time electronic transmission” to avoid ambiguity.
Obi, who has since moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was seen among the crowd gathered at the National Assembly gate. He stated that the Senate has a responsibility to prevent a repeat of the glitches reported by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections and should therefore make real-time electronic transmission compulsory.
The protest has drawn participants from civil society organisations, a small number of opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) members, and several women-led groups.
Demonstrators commenced their march from the Federal Secretariat before proceeding towards the gate of the National Assembly.
Security around the area was visibly tight, with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed in large numbers.
The police barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly ahead of the protest.
However, some civil society representatives who spoke with Channels Television clarified that the protesters had no plans to force their way into the complex, explaining that the demonstration was intended to be held primarily at the entrance of the National Assembly.
What you should know
The Occupy National Assembly protest reflects growing public anxiety over electoral transparency ahead of future elections. Central to the dispute is the Senate’s removal of the phrase “real-time” from the Electoral Act amendment, which critics fear could weaken safeguards against manipulation.
Peter Obi’s presence has added political weight to the demonstration, reinforcing calls for clear legal backing for electronic transmission of results.
While the Senate maintains that electronic transmission was not discarded, protesters argue that only explicit wording can guarantee accountability and prevent a repeat of the technical controversies that followed the 2023 general elections.
