ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi on Monday joined protesters at Nigeria’s National Assembly in Abuja, adding pressure on lawmakers to pass electoral reforms after the Senate failed to approve mandatory electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Obi, now a chieftain of the opposition African Democratic Congress, appeared at the #OccupyNationalAssembly protest organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of about 70 non-governmental organisations.
“The credibility of elections is the foundation of democracy,” Obi said at the protest, calling on lawmakers to ensure that the final law reflects the will of Nigerian voters.
The protest follows lawmakers’ decision to remove a provision that would have made electronic transmission of results compulsory, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and opposition figures.
Organisers said they plan to occupy the National Assembly complex from Monday until the conclusion of the harmonisation process between the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the bill.
“We do not have confidence that the conference committee will produce a final legislation that truly reflects the will of the people,” the Situation Room said in a statement, insisting that electronic transmission of results is essential to curb electoral malpractice.
Obi’s presence at the protest heightened attention on the standoff, as demonstrators urged lawmakers to restore the provision and strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
