By Hopejane Uzor
Under the watchful eyes of heavily armed security operatives, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, on Monday joined ordinary Nigerians at the gates of the National Assembly in Abuja, lending his voice to a growing call for credible elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
The early-morning protest drew civil society activists, youths, and supporters who gathered with placards and chants, demanding that lawmakers clearly provide for real-time electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
Among them was prominent activist, Aisha Yesufu, standing shoulder to shoulder with protesters who said they had come to “defend their votes.”
Speaking calmly to journalists amid the crowd, Obi described the protest as a collective effort to protect Nigeria’s democratic future. He said the absence of clear provisions for real-time result transmission leaves room for manipulation and weakens public trust in elections.
“We are here to protect the future of our democracy,” Obi said. “When results are transmitted in real time, Nigerians can trust that their votes truly count.”
As protesters sang solidarity songs and waved banners, security forces including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly, with patrol vans positioned at strategic points to maintain order.
Despite the heavy security presence, the protest remained peaceful.
The demonstration followed the Senate’s recent passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which removed explicit reference to “real-time” electronic transmission of results, a decision that has sparked concern among opposition figures and election observers.
For many protesters, the gathering was more than politics. It was about hope, trust, and the belief that future elections can be fairer than the past. As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, voices from the streets are growing louder, urging lawmakers to take concrete steps toward transparent and credible polls.
