Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, on Monday joined scores of Nigerian youths and civil society groups at the National Assembly in Abuja to protest the Senate’s stance on electronic transmission of election results.
The demonstration, tagged “Occupy National Assembly,” was organised by pro-democracy activists and youth-led organisations demanding that lawmakers reconsider their decision to reject a clause mandating electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Addressing protesters at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, Obi criticised the Senate’s position, describing it as a setback to electoral transparency and democratic progress.
“Allow the election to go through the normal process. Whatever the outcome is, we will accept it. Why introduce confusion after the process?” Obi said, urging lawmakers to prioritise the integrity of the electoral system.
He argued that rejecting electronic transmission of results could erode public confidence in the nation’s electoral process, particularly ahead of future elections. According to him, transparent and credible elections are essential to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy and strengthening citizens’ trust in governance.
The protesters, who gathered early in the morning, carried placards and chanted slogans calling for the restoration of mandatory electronic transmission of election results. They maintained that technology-driven result transmission is critical to reducing electoral manipulation and ensuring greater accountability.
Participants at the rally included members of various civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth movements and some members of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Security was visibly heightened around the National Assembly complex, with personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) deployed at strategic locations to maintain order. Despite the heavy presence of security operatives, the protest remained peaceful.
The protest follows the Senate’s recent passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, during which lawmakers voted against making electronic transmission of election results compulsory. The decision has continued to generate debate and criticism from opposition figures and civic groups who insist that electronic transmission is key to improving transparency, credibility and public trust in Nigeria’s elections.
Copyright © EaglesWatchOnline 2023 All rights reserved.
This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without written permission from EaglesWatchOnline.
