On Monday, hundreds of “Occupy National Assembly” protesters gathered at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, seeking clarity and accountability from the lawmakers about Nigeria’s Electoral Act amendment. The protest is a reaction to how the Senate has dealt with rules concerning the electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and
On Monday, hundreds of “Occupy National Assembly” protesters gathered at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, seeking clarity and accountability from the lawmakers about Nigeria’s Electoral Act amendment.
The protest is a reaction to how the Senate has dealt with rules concerning the electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026.
The Senate maintains it has not rejected electronic transmission, but protesters argue that only explicit “real-time” measures ensure credible elections.
Operatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed around the complex to maintain security and prevent disorder.
Why Nigerians Are Angry
Public anger rose last week when the Senate passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill without requiring real-time electronic transmission of results.
The rejected amendment to Clause 60(3) would have required INEC presiding officers to immediately upload polling unit results to the IREV portal after voting and signing Form EC8A.
Meanwhile, during the clause-by-clause consideration of the amendment bill, the lawmakers also rejected proposals for real-time transmission of results and a 10-year ban on vote buyers.
The legislators decided to uphold the sanctions established by the 2022 Act, which consist of fines or imprisonment for individuals committing electoral offenses. Additionally, election results are required to be transmitted in accordance with the procedures specified by the Commission.
The public and CSOs argued that this idea gives INEC too much discretion, potentially enabling manual or delayed processes that reduce transparency.
Senate’s Defence
After the Senate’s decision, many Nigerians reacted strongly, fearing setbacks in electoral reforms.
Additionally, social media was filled with responses, and numerous advocacy groups urged the National Assembly to review its position to promote democracy and strengthen public trust.
In addressing the criticism, several legislators have stated that a majority in the Senate supported the bill. They contend that the intention was not to compromise electoral integrity but rather to maintain INEC’s ability to implement procedures tailored to Nigeria’s varied and complex electoral landscape.
Despite that widespread backing, the Senate did not adopt the real-time transmission of election results sought by some advocates; instead, it retained the existing wording from the 2022 Electoral Act.
Reacting to the backlash, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the Senate never rejected electronic transmission but only removed the word “real-time” to avoid legal complications.
Speaking at a public event over the weekend, Akpabio explained that network failures and security challenges in remote areas could make “real-time” transmission impractical and expose INEC to lawsuits.
“If you insist on real-time and the network fails in a village somewhere, people will go to court and say it should have been real-time. That is why we removed the word,” he said.
He added that the Senate’s decision was meant to give INEC the flexibility to choose the most appropriate and secure method for transmitting results.
Emergency Senate Sitting
Amid the controversy, the Senate has announced an emergency plenary session scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
In a notice issued by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, senators were instructed to reconvene at the National Assembly complex on the directive of Senate President Akpabio.
The meeting will focus on the ongoing dispute over the Electoral Act amendment and the growing public pressure surrounding electronic result transmission.
The Senate had earlier adjourned plenary shortly after passing the bill through its third reading, but the fresh wave of protests has kept the issue firmly in the national spotlight.
