Dare Babalola
Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers State Governor and ex-Transportation Minister, joined protesters at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday, pushing for real-time electronic transmission of election results to be mandatory in the proposed Electoral Act amendment.
A video shared by X user #ImranMuhammed on Tuesday showed Amaechi standing alongside protesters, voicing support for their demands to be met.
The protest coincides with ongoing controversies over the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, specifically whether INEC should be required to electronically transmit results in real-time from polling units ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On Monday that former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, had also joined the protesters, lending his voice to calls for electoral transparency and credibility.
The unusual scene of protesters carrying mattresses and pillows to the National Assembly drew widespread attention on social media, with many interpreting the gesture as a symbolic declaration that they would not leave until lawmakers acceded to their demands.
Demonstrators, comprising civil society groups, youth organisations and concerned citizens, insist that the proposed legislation must explicitly include the phrase “real-time electronic transmission” to prevent any ambiguity that could undermine electoral integrity.
While many Nigerians have called on lawmakers to make real-time electronic transmission compulsory, some legislators have argued that the provision should remain discretionary, citing logistical and infrastructural concerns.
The Senate has repeatedly denied reports that it rejected the clause, with several clarifications issued to address what it termed “misinformation” about its position on the matter.
However, protesters have maintained their stance, arguing that explicit language is necessary to prevent manipulation and ensure that INEC cannot exercise discretion in transmitting results.
