RismadarVoice Reporters
February 9, 2026
There was a heavy security presence at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Monday as protesters gathered at the entrance, demanding the inclusion of “real-time electronic transmission” of election results in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
The demonstrators, operating under the banner “Occupy National Assembly,” insisted that the Senate must make explicit provisions for real-time electronic transmission of results, despite recent assurances by the upper chamber that it had not rejected electronic transmission.
Security personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed around the complex to maintain order and prevent any breach of security.
Members of various civil society organisations, a small number of opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) members, and women’s groups were present as the protest commenced.
The demonstration followed a call by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who on Sunday announced plans by the National Opposition Movement to protest what he described as the removal of electronic transmission of election results from the amended Electoral Act.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Sowore alleged that the move was aimed at undermining the credibility of future elections and called on Nigerians to mobilize in support of the #OccupyNASS protest.
The protest comes amid heightened public debate over the Electoral Act amendment, with the Senate maintaining that deliberations on the bill are ongoing and that claims of outright rejection of electronic transmission provisions are premature.
