Protesters Return to National Assembly Demanding Mandatory Real-Time Transmission of Election Results
Protesters gathered once again at the National Assembly complex on Monday, February 16, 2026, to demand that lawmakers make real-time electronic transmission of election results compulsory in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026. The demonstrators, representing civil society organizations including Situation Room Nigeria and ActionAid Nigeria, called for the complete elimination of manual collation of results, arguing that it creates opportunities for manipulation at collation centers.
Call for Transparency and Technological Integrity
According to the protesting groups, genuine transparency in the electoral process can only be achieved if results are transmitted electronically in real time directly from polling units, without any reliance on manual processes as a fallback. They emphasized that budgetary allocations for elections already account for the necessary technological infrastructure to support electronic transmission, leaving no valid reason to retain manual backup systems.
Resumed Protests Amid Senate Controversy
The protest resumed after a five-day suspension of demonstrations, following assurances given to the groups during last Tuesday's Senate sitting. Security personnel mounted barricades at the entrances of the National Assembly complex, restricting access and compelling the protesters to gather outside the main gates. This renewed agitation comes amid ongoing controversy in the Senate over Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Senate Deliberations and Proposed Amendments
During an emergency plenary session last week, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno proposed deleting the phrase "real-time" from the clause and substituting "transmission" with "transfer." This proposal sparked heated debate in the chamber, with lawmakers such as Enyinnaya Abaribe raising objections and points of order. At the conclusion of deliberations, senators approved the electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal but retained manual collation as a contingency in the event of technical difficulties.
Future Actions and Advocacy
The Senate is expected to reconvene on Tuesday at 11 a.m. to continue deliberations on other national issues. Meanwhile, the protesters have vowed to sustain their advocacy, maintaining that they will not relent until real-time electronic transmission of election results is unequivocally guaranteed in the amended legislation. They insist that this measure is crucial for ensuring electoral integrity and public trust in Nigeria's democratic processes.
