Protesters on Monday staged a demonstration at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, over the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act, demanding the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The protest, which drew attention for its unusual display, saw some demonstrators carrying mattresses and pillows, while others lay on them at the protest ground.
The action was intended to dramatise their insistence that lawmakers should not dilute provisions meant to guarantee credible elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.
The protesters called on the National Assembly to explicitly include the phrase “real-time electronic transmission” of results from polling units in the amended Electoral Act, arguing that anything short of this would undermine transparency in the electoral process.
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The demonstration comes amid controversy over reports that the Senate had
a clause mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically in real time.
Although the Senate has denied rejecting the provision, the issue has continued to generate public debate.
While many Nigerians have urged lawmakers to make real-time electronic transmission compulsory, some legislators have maintained that the provision should remain discretionary, citing concerns over logistics, network coverage and infrastructure in parts of the country.
Security was visibly tightened at the National Assembly complex, with security personnel deployed to maintain order as the protest continued.