Abuja is currently at a standstill as former Presidential candidate and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Peter Obi, joined hundreds of pro-democracy activists to storm the National Assembly Complex today, Monday, February 9, 2026.
The protest, tagged “Occupy the National Assembly,” follows the Senate’s controversial decision to delete the phrase “real-time” from the provisions for electronic transmission of results in the newly amended Electoral Act Bill 2026.
“No More Glitches!” – Obi Speaks Out
Addressing the crowd at the barricaded National Assembly gate, Peter Obi warned that Nigerians will no longer accept "technical glitches" as an excuse for electoral fraud.
"We are here because the foundation of any democracy is a credible election. If the Senate removes 'real-time' transmission, they are opening the door for manipulation. Nigerians want to see results as they drop from the polling units, not days later!" Obi declared amidst cheers from the crowd.
Heavy Security Presence at the Gate
The Federal Secretariat and the roads leading to the National Assembly are currently heavily fortified by a joint team of:
The Nigeria Police Force
The Nigerian Army
NSCDC (Civil Defence)
Protesters carrying placards with inscriptions like "Our Votes Must Count" and "Electronic Transmission is Non-Negotiable" were prevented from entering the complex, leading to a tense standoff at the main entrance.
The Controversy: What Did the Senate Change?
Last week, the Senate passed the Electoral Act (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026. While they claim electronic transmission is still allowed, they removed the word "mandatory" and "real-time," giving INEC the power to decide "how and when" results are uploaded. Critics say this is a "huge setback" for transparency ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
What do you think? Should electronic transmission be mandatory and real-time? Drop your comments below and share this post!
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