Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, led a massive protest to the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Monday, February 9, 2026. The demonstration was sparked by the Senate’s recent decision to reject the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026. Obi was joined by a diverse coalition including student unions, civil society organisations, and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as well as thousands of “Obidient” supporters who occupied the main entrance to the legislative building.
Addressing the crowd and security officials, Obi questioned the rationale behind the Senate’s refusal to embrace technology that would enhance transparency. He argued that allowing a manual collation process invites “confusion” and provides a fertile ground for the manipulation of figures at collation centres. “Allow the elections to go through the normal process. Whoever wins, we would accept,” Obi declared, stressing that the integrity of the 2027 polls depends on removing the human element that has historically led to contested outcomes.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Mandatory IReV Upload Is Non-Negotiable” and “Akpabio, Don’t Kill Our Democracy,” as they chanted solidarity songs. Leaders of the ADC and prominent activists like Aisha Yesufu, who were present at the rally, warned that the current legislative stance is a “direct assault on democratic credibility.” They maintained that if digital banking can process billions of transactions in real time across Nigeria, there is no technical excuse for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid uploading polling unit results instantly.
