Protesters converged on the National Assembly entrance in Abuja, demanding “real-time” electronic transmission of election results
“Occupy National Assembly” Protest Erupts in Abuja Over Senate’s Refusal to Mandate Real-Time Electronic Result Transmission
Hundreds of protesters, including civil society activists, members of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), and women’s groups, converged Monday on the entrance of the National Assembly in Abuja under the banner “Occupy National Assembly.”
The demonstration is a direct response to last week’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026 through third reading—specifically the Senate’s decision to reject a clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of results to INEC’s IREV portal.
Heavy security cordoned off the complex with personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Barricades blocked the main entrance, though organizers confirmed the protest would remain peaceful and confined to the gate area.
Marching from the Federal Secretariat toward the National Assembly, demonstrators chanted demands for lawmakers to explicitly include “real-time electronic transmission” in the legislation.
At the heart of the outrage is the Senate’s rejection of the proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3. The clause would have compelled INEC presiding officers to upload polling-unit results electronically in real time after completing and signing Form EC8A, with countersignatures from party agents.
Instead, the upper chamber retained the existing wording: “the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has pushed back against claims of outright rejection, insisting the chamber only removed the phrase “real-time” to avoid legal vulnerabilities.
“All we said during discussion was that we should remove the word ‘real-time’ because if you say real-time, then there is a network or grid failure and the network is not working. When you go to court, somebody will say it ought to have been real-time. That was all we said,” Akpabio explained at a weekend book launch.
He stressed the change grants INEC flexibility to adapt transmission methods based on technology and security realities.
Former Senate President David Mark, now ADC national chairman, backed INEC’s discretion while affirming his party’s support for electronic transmission overall.
In a related development, the Senate announced an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, February 10, 2026. A notice from Clerk Emmanuel Odo directed all senators to attend on Senate President Akpabio’s instruction—though no official agenda was disclosed.
The timing has fueled speculation that lawmakers may revisit the contentious provision amid mounting public pressure and the ongoing protest.
As tensions simmer in Abuja, the demonstration underscores deep public distrust in the electoral process and calls for stronger safeguards against result manipulation ahead of future polls. Read More
