Pro-democracy activists continued their protest at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding that lawmakers restore the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, with former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi joining the demonstrators.
Amaechi stood alongside protesters calling on the Senate to include a clear requirement in the law for election results to be transmitted electronically in real time from polling units. A video circulating on social media showed him among several participants urging the National Assembly to listen to public demands for transparent election reforms.
The protest comes amid controversy over changes to the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, which critics say weakened provisions for real-time transmission of results, raising concerns about opportunities for manipulation in the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi, who attended the protest with his son, said his presence symbolised the need for leadership to stand with citizens in defence of electoral integrity. Other demonstrators echoed calls for transparency, urging lawmakers to prioritise reforms that ensure credible and verifiable outcomes.
The demonstrations began on Monday when former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi led crowds under the banner Occupy National Assembly, urging the Senate to reinstate the real-time clause.
Protesters carried placards and marched from the Federal Secretariat to the National Assembly’s main gate, where security personnel — including officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps — barricaded access.
Obi addressed the crowd, describing the demand for real-time electronic transmission as essential to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process and preventing repeat errors like those seen in previous elections. He called on lawmakers to adopt clear legal language that strengthens electoral transparency and public confidence.
Amid the nationwide outcry and sustained pressure, the Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, to address the fallout and clarification surrounding the disputed amendments.
Protesters have vowed to continue their peaceful demonstration until their demands are reflected in the final legislation.