Pro-democracy protesters on Monday barricaded the main entrance of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, demanding that lawmakers include a clear provision for the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the amended Electoral Act.
The demonstrators, who arrived at the complex in the early hours of the day, said their action was triggered by reports that the Senate had voted down a key clause that would have compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit results in real time.
Armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as “No real-time, no credibility”, “Secure our votes with tech”, and “Election results must be seen in real time”, the protesters called for transparency and consistency in electoral reforms.
They insisted that the phrase “real-time electronic transmission” must be expressly stated in the final bill to eliminate ambiguity and ensure accountability in the collation and announcement of election results.
The protest comes amid growing public backlash following the Senate’s recent third reading of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, during which Clause 60(3), which would have made real-time electronic transmission mandatory, was voted down.
Although Senate leadership has issued clarifications, saying it did not reject the use of technology and only removed the term “real time” for legal and logistical reasons, protesters insisted that the ambiguity must not be left to INEC’s discretion.
Security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were deployed to the area to maintain order.
Vehicular movement around the Three Arms Zone was also partially restricted, although the protest remained peaceful as of the time of filing this report.
Protesters vowed to continue the demonstration until lawmakers reflect the demand verbatim in the final version of the amendment bill.
The protest adds to mounting pressure on the National Assembly following criticisms from civil society groups, opposition parties, and labour unions over the Senate’s handling of the electoral amendment.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had earlier warned of potential mass action if the real-time clause is not adopted, while legal luminaries, including Femi Falana (SAN), have hinted at possible legal challenges.
The Senate is expected to reconvene on Tuesday, February 10, for an emergency session where the issue may be revisited.