Nigerian youths have begun converging in Abuja for the “Occupy National Assembly” protest, following the Senate’s decision to reject compulsory electronic transmission of election results.
Security has been significantly reinforced around the protest area, with personnel deployed from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The protest is in response to the Senate’s stance on the Electoral Act amendment bill. On Wednesday, lawmakers reportedly voted against a proposed amendment to Clause 60, sub-section 3 of the bill, which sought to mandate the real-time electronic transmission of election results.
As of the time of filing this report, the protesters had commenced a march from the Federal Secretariat and were advancing toward the gates of the National Assembly.
The development has heightened tensions in the capital, as demonstrators insist that electronic transmission of results is critical to ensuring transparency and credibility in future elections.
