Electronic transmission: Tension in Abuja as Peter Obi leads protest at NASS
Protests Erupt at National Assembly Over Electronic Transmission of Election Results
ABUJA—Peter Obi, a leading figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), joined demonstrators protesting the Senate’s recent rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results. The protest took place on Monday at the National Assembly, where a large group of activists voiced their discontent with the Senate’s decision.
Obi criticized the lawmakers’ stance, advocating for an electoral process free from limitations. “Allow the election to go through the normal process. Whatever the outcome is, we will accept it. Why introduce confusion after the process?” he stated at the protest site.
The demonstration, organized under the banner “Occupy National Assembly,” drew a significant number of Nigerian youths and pro-democracy advocates to the entrance of the National Assembly, where they expressed their opposition to the Senate’s decision regarding the electronic transmission clause of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
In response to the protests, a substantial security presence was mobilized, including personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to ensure order in the area.
Protesters are urging the National Assembly to revisit its decision, emphasizing that electronic transmission is crucial for maintaining transparency, credibility, and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
As of the latest updates, the demonstrations remained peaceful, with security forces closely monitoring activities at the site.
