The demonstration formed part of what organisers described as a planned, coordinated, evidence-based, and citizen-driven advocacy led by ActionAid Nigeria, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, and the Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOTION), to sustain momentum for the passage and effective implementation of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.
Protesters carried placards with messages demanding accountability and transparency, including calls to reject electoral corruption in 2027, make the electronic transmission of results to IReV mandatory, and protect citizens’ votes.
At the heart of their demand is a call for the Conference (Harmonisation) Committee to retain mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results to both the INEC collation system and the Result Viewing Portal (IReV), as adopted in the House of Representatives’ version of the bill.
Until Our Votes Count, Our Lives Cannot Count
Speaking at the protest ground, activist Randy Peter Akah said the movement was fundamentally about accountability and national survival.
“This peaceful protest is about making sure that our lives count by our votes counting. Until our votes begin to count, our lives cannot count,” he told journalists.
Akah linked electoral credibility to governance failures, insecurity, and leadership accountability.
“If the lives of citizens count, they cannot kidnap and kill more than 100 people in Kwara, and the governor is in Abuja trying to deliver the APC candidate for the AMAG election. The president is attending a fishing festival in Kebbi State,” he said.
He further questioned alleged security decisions surrounding school abductions, arguing that where votes truly count, leaders cannot act irresponsibly.
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“There is no country where the vote of the people counts, where leaders will act as recklessly as Nigerian leaders. For 2027, we do not want shenanigans.”
Akah dismissed arguments suggesting technological limitations.
“Anybody who says there is no technology for electronic transmission is lying. “They want to steal the mandate of the people, and it will not work.”
Protesters Cite 2023 Experience
Another protester, Christian Paul Ikechukwu, said he joined the demonstration because of what he described as discrepancies experienced during the 2023 elections.
“I am here with other Nigerians to ask the Senate to help us transmit our election results in real time,” he said.
He alleged that delays between polling unit results and uploads created opportunities for manipulation.
“The polling unit results in my unit at Jabi Primary School were not the same when I saw the uploaded results. That latency allows for rigging.”
Ikechukwu argued that network coverage should not be an excuse.
“We are talking about imputing figures, not pictures. These are numbers. Most villages have enough network to transmit figures. What we want is real time.”
He warned against retaining clauses that allow manual alternatives.
“If there is any clause that says ‘or’ or ‘manual along with electronic’, it will not work. That conjunction is where they take advantage of us.”
ActionAid: Make it Mandatory, Without Conditions
The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, said the protest was necessary because of what he described as past manipulation of electoral processes.
“We are here to put pressure on the National Assembly to pass a bill for real-time transmission of election results,” he said.
He recalled that during the 2023 elections, INEC introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS), which was meant to accredit voters and transmit results electronically.
“The votes that passed through BIVAS were more genuine. The manual ones were 100 per cent manipulated,” he alleged.
Mamedu noted that courts later ruled that INEC guidelines were not backed by law, which prompted the House of Representatives to introduce amendments reflecting the original electronic transmission model.
“We stand with the House of Representatives on mandatory real-time transmission. Without any condition. No clause.”
He added that funding constraints should not arise as a justification.
“Over N200 billion has been earmarked for technology in the next election, and over N1 trillion has been allocated to INEC this year. The resources are there.”
He warned that civil society mobilisation would continue if lawmakers ignored public demand.
“If they do not listen, we will keep calling Nigerians out for peaceful protests until they listen to the voice of the people.”
Network Coverage Argument Challenged
Also speaking, Agianpe Onyema of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room dismissed network concerns.
She cited mapping data showing that about 98 percent of polling locations have coverage, with only a small fraction lacking connectivity.
“Out of over 176,000 polling units, only about 3,000 are without coverage. That is not substantial enough to be used as an argument.”
Onyema emphasised that results should be transmitted to both:
- The INEC collation system, and
- The IReV portal.
She noted that electronic transmission worked during governorship and National Assembly elections in 2023, except for the presidential poll, which experienced what she described as a technical glitch. “It worked before. It can work again.”
National Assembly Responds
The petition was received on behalf of the National Assembly by Akin Rotimi, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ekiti North in the 10th Assembly, who addressed journalists shortly after collecting the letter.
Rotimi assured Nigerians that the 10th National Assembly remains committed to strengthening democratic institutions and urged citizens to maintain faith in the legislative process.
He emphasised that stakeholder inputs would be considered during the harmonisation stage as lawmakers reconcile differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill.
What Civil Society Wants
The coalition is demanding that the Conference Committee:
- Retain mandatory real-time transmission of results to both INEC’s collation system and IReV.
- Preserve the 360-day Notice of Elections timeline under the Electoral Act 2022.
- Remove discretionary clauses that allow manual alternatives to electronic transmission.
With 2027 approaching, activists say electoral integrity remains non-negotiable.
As whistles blew and chants echoed outside the National Assembly gate, protesters insisted their message was simple: No more ambiguity. No more loopholes. Let the votes count in real time.
National Assembly Cuts Recess for Emergency Session
As of February 16, 2026, the Nigerian National Assembly has cut short its recess to reconvene for an emergency plenary session. Lawmakers are scheduled to return on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 11:00 am to take “very crucial decisions,” including reviewing the February 20, 2027, presidential election date. Reports suggest the date may be adjusted to February 13, 2027, to avoid overlapping with Ramadan.
While the Assembly had been on an extended end-of-year break, this special session signals a temporary return to on-site work to address urgent national issues, reinforcing the legislature’s role in ensuring that election timelines and processes align with both constitutional and public expectations.
The emergency session comes amid rising public pressure for electoral transparency, including demands for mandatory real-time transmission of election results, highlighting that Nigerians are closely watching how lawmakers respond to calls for credible elections ahead of 2027.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
