Protesters on Monday gathered at the National Assembly in Abuja for the “Occupy National Assembly” protest, demanding that the Senate make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
The demonstrators, drawn from civil society groups, women’s organisations and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marched from the Federal Secretariat to the National Assembly gate, where security operatives barricaded access to the complex.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who is now a member of the ADC, joined the protest, urging lawmakers to prevent a repeat of the technical glitches recorded during the 2023 general election by mandating real-time result transmission.
The protest follows the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, in which lawmakers declined to amend Clause 60(3) to make electronic transmission of results compulsory, instead retaining INEC’s discretion.
The Senate has maintained that it did not reject electronic transmission but removed the phrase “real-time” to give INEC flexibility.
Meanwhile, the Senate has announced an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, amid growing public pressure over the issue.
