The march drew support from student and civil society groups, members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Obidient Movement, a coalition of Obi’s supporters
Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi on Saturday led protesters to the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, opposing the senate’s decision to reject real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The march drew support from student and civil society groups, members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Obidient Movement, a coalition of Obi’s supporters.
“Let the elections follow the normal process. Whoever wins, we will accept,” Obi told the demonstrators, who responded with chants and solidarity songs. “Why create confusion where none should exist?”
The protest follows the senate’s February 4 passage of the Electoral Act amendment bill, debated clause by clause over five hours. Among the changes, the bill reduced the notice period for elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 360 to 180 days.
Critics focused on the rejection of real-time transmission of results, which was outlined in clause 60(3) of the proposed amendment. The clause required presiding officers to transmit results electronically to the IReV portal immediately after Form EC8A, which records votes at polling units, had been signed and stamped.
Had it passed, the amendment would have made real-time electronic transmission a legal obligation. Instead, the senate upheld section 60(5) of the 2022 Electoral Act, which allows presiding officers to transfer results “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”
The senate’s decision triggered widespread outrage on social media and calls for urgent action. An emergency plenary sitting has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, according to Emmanuel Odo, clerk of the senate.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also threatened mass action over the development.
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