Pro-democracy activists and civil society groups led by activist Aisha Yesufu on Thursday protested at the National Assembly in Abuja over the proposed electoral reform bill, warning that the removal of mandatory electronic transmission of results could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The protesters rejected any provision that makes real-time electronic transmission optional or subject to the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, insisting that without compulsory e-transmission, public trust in the electoral process cannot be restored.
Speaking to Symfoni News after submitting their demands to lawmakers, the group said the move by the Senate risks repeating controversies associated with past elections.
“There is no trust in our democracy today. Without electronic transmission of results, there can be no free and fair election in 2027,” one of the conveners said.
The protesters clarified that they were not opposed to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), noting that their concern lies with result transmission and collation, which they said remains vulnerable to manipulation if left discretionary.
They warned that allowing manual or delayed collation could encourage result alteration and deepen public disillusionment, urging the National Assembly to amend the bill to make real-time electronic transmission of results mandatory.
Describing their action as a defence of democracy and future generations, the group vowed to sustain pressure until their demand for transparent and credible elections is met.
