In a powerful show of civic activism and democratic fervour, former presidential candidate Peter Obi, alongside civil rights icons including Aisha Yesufu, businessman Isaac Fayose, and a coalition of youth and civil society organisations, rallied at the National Assembly in Abuja on Monday, February 9, 2026, calling for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results to be explicitly written into Nigeria’s electoral law.
The protest, widely tagged “Occupy National Assembly (Occupy NASS),” was sparked by the recent passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026, in which the Senate controversially removed the phrase “real-time” electronic transmission of results from the proposed legislation. This omission, critics say, weakens electoral transparency and jeopardises public confidence in future elections.
Why This Matters: The Fight for Credible Elections
At the heart of the protest lies a demand for genuine electoral transparency. Electronic transmission of election results — particularly in real time from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV) — has become a lightning rod in Nigeria’s ongoing democratic reform process.
Supporters argue that real-time transmission closes loopholes that allow for manipulation during collation and counting, which have been recurring concerns since past elections. This demand is rooted in the painful memories of electoral irregularities and perceived manipulation in previous polls, underscoring the need for unambiguous legal guarantees to protect the integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process.
A Diverse Coalition at the National Assembly Gates
From the early hours of Monday morning, protesters representing a broad cross-section of Nigerian society converged on the National Assembly complex. Among them were:
Political figures such as Peter Obi — former Labour Party presidential candidate and now a leading figure with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Activist Aisha Yesufu, known for her leadership in pro-democracy movements.
Businessman Isaac Fayose, who spoke passionately about the demands and warned that the protest was only the beginning if the Senate failed to act.
Youth groups, civil society organisations, women’s networks, the Obidient Movement and labour union representatives — all united in a common cause.
Carrying placards with powerful slogans like “Our Votes Must Count,” “No to Electoral Robbery,” “Protect Democracy Now,” and “Akpabio Don’t Destroy Our Democracy,” the crowd chanted and marched from the Federal Secretariat to the National Assembly gate, visibly demonstrating the depth of public sentiment behind the call for electoral reform.
Obi’s Message: Democracy Must Be Protected
Speaking to the assembled crowd and journalists, Peter Obi emphasised that credible, transparent elections are non-negotiable for the survival of Nigeria’s democracy. He argued that there was nothing technically difficult about real-time electronic transmission, noting, “Simple transmission… it’s not a difficult thing”, and urging lawmakers to allow INEC to implement reforms that would ensure results are shared publicly in real time.
Obi further stressed that the removal of explicit real-time transmission provisions from the Electoral Act amendment sends a worrying signal. He said that Nigerians have suffered enough from “glitches” and system failures in past elections and insisted that future polls deserve stronger safeguards against manipulation.
Fayose: This Is Just the Beginning
Isaac Fayose took a colourful and symbolic approach in describing the stakes involved. Speaking to journalists, he warned that the protest was only a warning shot, and that the outcome of the Senate’s planned emergency plenary session — scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2026 — would determine whether protests would continue. Fayose said Nigerians “know what happens in a collation room” and underscored that real-time electronic transmission is critical to confidence in the count.
Aisha Yesufu’s Demand: Accountability and Consequences
For activist Aisha Yesufu, the protest was not just a call for transparency, but also a demand for accountability from political leadership — especially regarding Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Yesufu publicly argued that if the Senate leadership continued to resist the will of the people and failed to make electronic transmission mandatory, there should be political consequences, including calls for impeachment.
Her bold stance reflects a broader expectation among civil society actors that elected leaders must serve the interests of Nigerians and uphold the democratic process rather than political expediency.
Security and the Peaceful Nature of the Protest
Given the high-profile nature of the protest, security was significantly heightened around the National Assembly. Officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other paramilitary units were deployed to maintain order and ensure that the demonstration remained peaceful. Barricades and patrol vans were strategically positioned to regulate movement and manage the flow of commuters in the area.
Despite such a large turnout and passionate energy, the demonstration remained peaceful, with no reports of violence or significant disruption.
Senate’s Stance and the Path Ahead
The protest comes at a crucial moment in Nigeria’s electoral reform process. The Senate’s initial decision to remove “real-time” electronic transmission from the Electoral Act amendment bill has triggered a public outcry, with critics arguing that the ambiguity undermines the purpose of electoral reform.
Senate leadership, however, has countered that the decision was driven by concerns that mandatory real-time transmission could spark legal disputes if technical failures occur — such as network outages — on election day. They argue that broad language allowing INEC discretion in transmission methods avoids potential litigation and logistical challenges.
Yet protesters maintain that trusting discretion over clear legal mandate invites ambiguity and could weaken confidence in the electoral process, particularly ahead of the highly anticipated 2027 general elections.
The emergency plenary session scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2026 — set to revisit the contentious clauses — has become the focal point for both protesters and lawmakers. Many activists, including Obi and Yesufu, have vowed to sustain pressure on the National Assembly until an explicit, mandatory provision for real-time electronic transmission of results is reinstated in the law.
Conclusion
The “Occupy NASS” protest in Abuja reflects a deeper national conversation on democratic integrity, transparency and the role of technology in safeguarding electoral outcomes. As Nigeria prepares for future elections, demands from civil society, political actors and ordinary citizens for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results represent a collective desire for a more credible and transparent democratic process.
For Nigeria to strengthen public trust in elections and ensure that every vote truly counts, the outcome of this protest and the impending Senate sessions could mark a defining moment in the country’s democratic evolution.
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