By Ayomide Otitoju
Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu on Tuesday renewed her call for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, as she criticised the deployment of soldiers to a protest at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Yesufu spoke at the protest ground where demonstrators gathered under the “Occupy National Assembly” campaign to oppose the Senate’s rejection of a clause seeking to mandate real-time electronic transmission of results.
“All we are asking for is real-time electronic transmission of the electoral results. We are here, and we are waiting for the lawmakers we sent to Abuja to pass the bill the way it should be passed. All citizens are asking for is electronic transmission, real-time. I do not see any reason why that is a problem,” she said.
The activist also faulted the presence of soldiers at the venue, describing their deployment against peaceful protesters as unconstitutional.
“To every soldier that you brought here, know that you are here unconstitutionally because your job description does not include being here against protesters. Before you pull that trigger or throw that canister, ask yourself: Is it constitutional or unconstitutional?” she said.
Yesufu further questioned why troops were stationed at the protest instead of being deployed to areas grappling with insecurity.
“There are soldiers that should be in Kwara defending the people, yet they are here. Terrorists threatened citizens yesterday. The last time they did, over 200 people were killed. They operated from sunset to sunrise,” she said.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force barricaded major roads leading to the National Assembly complex ahead of an emergency plenary session scheduled for Tuesday.
The protest, which began on Monday, is being led by Yesufu and several civil society organisations demanding a reversal of the Senate’s decision on the Electoral Act amendment.
Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi also joined the protest on Tuesday, attending alongside his son. Amaechi accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of opposing electronic transmission out of fear of losing elections and urged opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to support the demonstration.
He said opposition groups and civil society organisations would continue to push for a reversal of the Senate’s position despite resistance from political leaders.
The protests followed the Senate’s decision to retain Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 Amendment Bill, which empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results “as it prescribes,” rather than mandating real-time transmission to the IREV portal.
Lawmakers also rejected proposals for a 10-year ban on vote-buying, opting to maintain existing penalties.
The development has drawn criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who called for compulsory real-time electronic transmission to address electoral irregularities.
However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified that the upper chamber did not reject electronic transmission outright but removed the phrase “real-time” to avoid potential legal disputes arising from network failures and to preserve INEC’s operational flexibility.
Other lawmakers, including Senator Victor Umeh, said the controversy stemmed largely from wording adjustments during plenary and maintained that the amendment continues to enjoy broad support within the Senate.
