Protesters Storm National Assembly Over Rejection of Election Result Transmission

Protesters Storm National Assembly Over Rejection of Election Result Transmission
Senate denies complexity, insists electronic transmission provision remains
Demonstrators demand explicit inclusion of real-time transmission in Electoral Act

Protesters on Monday staged a demonstration at the entrance of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, expressing outrage over the Senate’s handling of the electronic transmission of election results.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the group had vowed to converge on the Assembly to demand that the clause for mandatory real-time electronic transmission be explicitly included in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act. The protest comes after reports indicated that the Senate rejected the provision during deliberations.

While the Senate has issued clarifications, insisting that electronic transmission remains permissible under the proposed law, demonstrators argued that the legislation must explicitly specify “real-time electronic transmission” to ensure transparency and prevent manipulation.

At the time of filing this report, the protest was met with a heavy security presence. Personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed to maintain order and prevent any escalation.

The protest reflects growing public concern over the perceived contradictions in the Senate’s approach to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act amendment, which governs the transmission of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Critics argue that omitting the real-time specification could compromise the integrity of election results and fuel mistrust in Nigeria’s democratic process.

Stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have repeatedly warned that failure to guarantee transparent electronic transmission may trigger mass protests or calls to boycott future elections. In a statement issued on Sunday, NLC President Joe Ajaero stated that the Senate’s actions risk undermining public confidence in the nation’s electoral process and democratic institutions.

Protesters Election Result Transmission — Protesters Storm National Assembly Over Rejection of Election Result Transmission

The protest underscores the intensity of public scrutiny as the Senate prepares to reconvene for an emergency plenary session to address the controversy, with citizens and civil society groups closely monitoring lawmakers’ next steps.