Pressure mounted on the National Assembly on Monday as former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, mobilised protesters against the Senate’s decision to reject mandatory electronic transmission of election results.
Leading the demonstration at the National Assembly under the banner “Occupy NASS,” Obi warned that the lawmakers’ action poses what he described as a “serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.”
He argued that the absence of electronic transmission in previous polls fuelled electoral disputes, including those that followed the 2023 general election.
The protest attracted activists and civil society organisations who called on the Senate to immediately reverse its position, insisting that transparent result transmission is critical to restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
In defending its stance, the Senate cited fears of possible technical glitches that could compromise the system.
Obi, however, dismissed the argument, noting that several African countries have successfully adopted electronic transmission without undermining their elections.
Beyond the street protest, the controversy has drawn organised labour into the debate. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to embark on nationwide protests if the issue is not addressed, underscoring the growing public pressure on lawmakers to reconsider their decision.
