From Victor Osula, Abuja
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on Monday, led a coalition of civil society organisations to the National Assembly Complex in Abuja to protest the Senate’s rejection of a proposal for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The protest followed last Wednesday’s decision by the Senate to vote down a recommendation seeking to compel presiding officers to upload polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real time. The contentious proposal was contained in Section 60 of the Electoral Act amendment bill, which governs the transmission of election results.
During plenary, lawmakers rejected the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and instead retained the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act. The existing law permits electronic transmission of results only after votes have been counted and publicly announced at polling units.
The decision has drawn strong criticism from civil society groups and opposition parties, who argue that it could weaken transparency, credibility and public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Addressing protesters, Obi faulted the Senate’s refusal to mandate real-time transmission of results, insisting that credible elections are anchored on transparent and verifiable processes.
“Simple transmission is not a difficult thing. Allow the election to go through the normal process; whoever wins, we will accept”, Obi said.
He explained that his presence at the protest was to ensure that lawmakers reconsider their position when the Senate reconvenes on Tuesday, noting that the demand for real-time electronic transmission reflects the will of Nigerians seeking credible elections.
Protesters warned that retaining the current provision could stall electoral reforms and undermine the integrity of future polls, stressing that real-time transmission remains a key safeguard against manipulation.
The security was beefed up around the protest venue, with personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed to maintain order and prevent a breakdown of law and order.
