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Protesters Return To National Assembly, Demand Mandatory Real Time Result Transmission.
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Senate retains manual backup despite heated objections.
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Civil groups vow sustained pressure on lawmakers.
Protesters Return To National Assembly, Demand Mandatory Real Time Electronic Transmission Of Results
Protesters on Monday returned to the National Assembly, demanding that real time electronic transmission of election results be made compulsory in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the demonstrators, drawn from civil society organisations including Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, known as Situation Room, and ActionAid Nigeria, called for the complete removal of manual collation of results.
Security operatives barricaded entrances to the National Assembly complex, forcing the protesters to gather outside the main gates.
The protest followed a five day break by the Assembly after assurances were given during last Tuesday’s plenary session.
The groups insisted there was no justification for retaining manual backup in the electoral process, arguing that the election budget already provides for the necessary technological infrastructure.
They demanded that results be transmitted in real time from polling units directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission Result Viewing Portal.
According to the protesters, allowing manual collation as a fallback option could create room for manipulation during the results collation process.
The renewed agitation came after the Senate reconvened last Tuesday in an emergency plenary to revisit its earlier position on Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
During the session, Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, moved a motion to delete the phrase “real-time” and substitute “transmission” with “transfer.”
The proposal sparked objections from several lawmakers, including Enyinnaya Abaribe, who repeatedly raised points of order.
At the end of deliberations, the Senate approved electronic transmission of results to INEC’s portal but retained manual collation as a backup in case of technical failure.
The Senate is expected to reconvene on Tuesday, February 17, at 11 a.m. to take further decisions on national issues, including matters relating to the Electoral Act amendment.
The protesters vowed to sustain pressure on lawmakers until mandatory real time electronic transmission of election results is fully guaranteed.
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