By Eteteonline
Nigerian youths and civil society organizations have mobilized against the Senate’s rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, sparking a wave of protests in Abuja. Under the banner of the “Occupy National Assembly,” protesters gathered in the nation’s capital to voice their disapproval of the Senate’s position on the Electoral Amendment Bill, namely its decision to remove clauses requiring the e-transmission of results.
Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate, is also at the demonstration, leading a group of protesters in a march toward the National Assembly to call for amendments to the proposed Electoral Act.
In spite of strict security measures, the demonstrators started their march from the Federal Secretariat, heading toward the National Assembly. Students, employees, businesspeople, and professionals from all walks of life have been urged to participate in the demonstrations.
Nigerian youths and civil society organizations mobilized against the Senate’s rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, sparking protests that started in Abuja.
According to reports, a wide coalition of youth organizations, civil society organizations, and people with disabilities attended the demonstration, all of whom were calling for an open and technologically advanced electoral process.
The demonstrators maintain that in order to prevent electoral fraud and boost public trust in elections, the results of the elections must be transmitted electronically in bulk.
However, security personnel have closed the gates to the National Assembly, making it impossible for Obi and other demonstrators to enter the building. With the police, army, and civil defense forces heavily present and stationed in huge numbers around important government sites, such as the National Assembly building, security has been tight.
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