Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, is leading a protest against the Nigerian Senate in Abuja over the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act.
In a video shared on X by African Independent Television (AIT) on Monday, the former Anambra governor addressed journalists and demanded that the Senate explicitly provide for real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Obi said electronic transmission is straightforward and should not attract controversy.
“Simple transmission is not a difficult thing,” he said.
“Allow the election to follow the normal process. Whoever wins, we will accept. Why introduce confusion?”
Protest Continues Despite Senate Emergency Session
Despite the Senate’s announcement of an emergency session scheduled for Tuesday, Obi said the protest must continue.
According to him, sustained public pressure remains necessary to compel lawmakers to act in the national interest.
He warned that Nigerians cannot afford another disputed electoral process.
‘We Don’t Want Glitch Again’
Obi also referenced the 2023 general election, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) blamed technical glitches for the failure of electronic transmission of results.
“We don’t want any glitch again,” he said.
“Glitch is finished.”
He argued that only a clear and unambiguous law can prevent future technical excuses.
Senate Passes Electoral Act Amendment
The protest followed the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill on Wednesday.
Amid growing public criticism, Senate President Godswill Akpabio defended the chamber’s decision.
He said lawmakers retained provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, which grant INEC the discretion to determine the mode of result transmission.
Akpabio: Senate Retained Electronic Transmission
Responding to reports circulating on social media, Akpabio dismissed claims that the Senate removed electronic transmission from the law.
“Distinguished colleagues, social media is awash with reports that the Senate rejected electronic transmission of results,” he said.
“That is not true. We retained the electronic transmission provision that existed in the Act and was applied in 2022.”
He urged Nigerians to disregard what he described as misleading narratives.
“So please, do not allow anyone to confuse you,” Akpabio said.
“If you are in doubt, we will make our final votes and proceedings available.”
Akpabio further insisted that the Senate would not reverse electoral reforms.
“We cannot afford to go backwards,” he said.
Joint Harmonisation Committee Set Up
Following the passage of the bill, Akpabio announced the formation of a joint harmonisation committee made up of members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
According to him, the committee will reconcile both versions of the bill before transmitting it to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Niyi Adegbonmire, chairman of the Senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters, will lead the committee.
Other members include Tahir Monguno, Adamu Aliero, Orji Kalu, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpeyong, Aminu Abbas, Tokunbo Abiru, and Simon Lalong.
