Civil society organisations, including the Kukah Centre and Yiaga Africa, on Monday gave the National Assembly a two-week ultimatum to conclude amendments to the Electoral Act and retain mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results. They also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the timetable for the 2027 general elections without delay.
The call was made at a joint press conference in Abuja organised with the International Press Centre, TAF Africa, the Centre for Media and Society, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, and Elect Her.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, TAF Africa CEO Mr Jake Epelle said members of the conference committee harmonising the amendment must prioritise national interest over partisan considerations.
“We call on the conference committee to be guided by national interest, institutional integrity, and democratic accountability rather than narrow partisan calculations,” Epelle said. “We urge the National Assembly to conclude the amendment process and transmit the final bill to the President within two weeks.”
He also encouraged Nigerians to hold lawmakers accountable, stressing that public pressure was critical to safeguarding electoral integrity.
“The conference committee should adopt the House of Representatives’ position on mandatory electronic transmission, downloadable voter cards, and retention of statutory electoral timelines,” Epelle added. “These measures protect voters and ensure credible elections.”
Yiaga Africa’s Director of Programmes, Ms Cynthia Mbamalu, criticised what she called legislative backsliding on previous reforms. “It is unfair for the Senate to revisit issues already resolved in earlier reform cycles. INEC has the infrastructure; fears of disenfranchisement are unfounded,” she said.
The ultimatum came as former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi joined hundreds of protesters at the National Assembly complex in Abuja under the banner Occupy National Assembly, challenging the Senate’s removal of “real-time” from the electronic transmission clause.
In a dramatic gesture, some demonstrators brought mattresses and pillows, with a few lying on them to signal their resolve to remain until their demands are met.
The protest follows the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, which critics say weakens transparency by removing the explicit “real-time” requirement. Protesters insisted the amended law must clearly mandate real-time transmission from polling units to prevent post-election manipulation and restore public confidence in the process.
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