By By Elizabeth Ugbo
A wave of protests erupted in Abuja as Nigerian youths and civil society organisations mobilised against the Senateโs rejection of compulsory electronic transmission of election results.The demonstrators, operating under the banner โOccupy National Assembly,โ converged on the federal capital to protest the Senateโs decision on the Electoral Amendment Bill, particularly the removal of provisions mandating electronic transmission of results.Security agencies were placed on high alert, with heavy deployment of personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps around strategic locations, including the National Assembly complex.The protest attracted a broad coalition of civil society groups, youth organisations and persons with disabilities, all demanding a transparent and technology-driven electoral process.Former Anambra State governor and presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, joined the protest, leading demonstrators in a march toward the National Assembly. However, access to the complex was blocked as security operatives shut the gates, preventing protesters from entering.The protest follows the Senateโs decision to reject an amendment to Clause 60, sub-section 3 of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which sought to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory. In a communique circulated during the protests, they demanded, among other things, that the Harmonisation committee should adopt the House of Representatives’ position on mandatory electronic transmission of results, downloadable voter card and retention of electoral timelines. They also demanded that INEC issue notices of elections in line with the Electoral Act 2022.
