The Obidient Movement Worldwide has vowed to hold a large demonstration against the National Assembly following the Senate’s rejection of the real-time electronic transmission of election results, claiming that the decision could jeopardize the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Yunusa Tanko, the group’s National Coordinator, said this in a statement made in Abuja on Friday; however, no date for the planned protest was set.
The warning came after the Senate rejected a proposed change to Clause 70(3) of the Electoral Change Bill, which aimed to require electronic transmission of election results.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified earlier that the upper chamber did not completely reject electronic transmission but instead retained the existing provision of the Electoral Act, which states that “the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”
Tanko slammed the Senate’s decision in a statement titled “Obedient Movement Rejects Non-Passage of Electronic Transmission of Results, Calls for March to National Assembly,” portraying it as an attempt to maintain manual collation of election results under the 2022 Electoral Act.
He said, “The Obidient Movement vehemently condemns the Nigerian Senate’s recent decision to reject the mandatory electronic transmission of election results.
“This action, which retains a clause in the 2022 Electoral Act allowing for manual collation of results, is a deliberate and unforgivable act of electoral manipulation in preparation for the 2027 general elections.”
Tanko condemned the decision as a setback to election reforms and a threat to democratic government, pointing out that Nigerians had consistently requested reforms that would ensure openness and credibility.
“This decision by the National Assembly represents a direct assault on the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy. By refusing to mandate the electronic transmission of results from polling units to the IREV, the Senate has chosen to institutionalize chaos and opacity, thereby eroding public trust in the electoral process.
“This action is a slap in the face of millions of Nigerians who have tirelessly advocated for greater transparency and accountability in our elections,” he said.
The Obidients linked the Senate’s action to controversies that trailed the 2023 general elections, which were marred by disputes over result transmission.
“We vividly recall the turmoil, disputes, and widespread manipulation that characterized the 2023 general elections—events that stemmed directly from the failure to fully implement electronic transmission of results.
“Nigerians were fed excuses of a fabricated ‘glitch’ that never existed, while the will of the people was blatantly subverted,” Tanko said.
Tanko also alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress was using double standards.
“The… has clearly demonstrated its intent to undermine free, fair, and credible elections. It is both ironic and hypocritical for a party that deploys e-registration and electronic processes for its internal affairs to deny Nigerians the same level of transparency in national elections,” he said.
The movement announced preparations for a peaceful protest and urged lawmakers to act quickly.
“Accordingly, we hereby call on all Nigerians to join us in a peaceful march to the National Assembly to press our demand that both chambers convene an emergency sitting to revisit this critical issue and immediately pass into law the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results to INEC’s IREV portal.
“A stitch in time saves nine. A New Nigeria is Possible,” Tanko added.
