By Abdoulaye Kay
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Monday joined protesters at the National Assembly in Abuja under the “Occupy NASS” movement.
The demonstration followed the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, through third reading, with lawmakers removing the phrase “real-time” transmission of election results.
Despite Senate clarifications disputing claims that electronic transmission was rejected outright, protesters insist the legislation must explicitly mandate “real-time electronic transmission” of results.
Obi, now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the Senate should guard against the technical glitches reported by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 general elections by making real-time transmission compulsory.
The protest drew members of civil society organisations, some ADC supporters, and women’s groups. Participants marched from the Federal Secretariat to the National Assembly (NASS) gate.
Security presence was heavy, with personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed at the scene. Police barricaded the entrance to the complex.
However, civil society representatives told Channels Television that protesters had no plans to enter the National Assembly premises, noting that the demonstration was intended to be held at the entrance.
