Electoral Act Amendment: Network Excuse No Longer Acceptable – Peter Obi!

Electoral Act Amendment: Network Excuse No Longer Acceptable – Peter Obi!

Reported by Mustapha Labake Omowumi (Journalist) | Sele Media Africa

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has renewed calls for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, saying claims of poor network coverage in parts of the country are “no longer acceptable.”
Obi, speaking at the Occupy National Assembly protest in Abuja on Monday, urged the National Assembly to restore explicit provisions requiring results from polling units to be transmitted electronically in real time.
The protest, organised by the Obidient Movement and supported by civil society groups, was held amid controversy over the Senate’s decision to remove “real-time” from sections of the proposed Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which critics argue could weaken transparency.
Addressing journalists, Obi insisted that the network excuse is unacceptable in 21st-century Nigeria and stressed that real-time electronic transmission is crucial for public confidence in the 2027 general elections.
Protesters chanted slogans like “Our votes must count” and “No to electoral robbery” as they marched to the National Assembly under tight security. Civil society organisations have warned that failure to enshrine mandatory electronic transmission could undermine election credibility.
Despite assurances from the Senate that public concerns will be considered in the bill harmonisation process, activists maintain that only legally binding real-time electronic transmission will secure election integrity.

Citations
1.Vanguard Nigeria
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/02/electoral-act-amendment-network-excuse-no-longer-acceptable-peter-obi

2.Independent Nigeria
https://independent.ng/obi-joins-occupy-n-assembly-protest-over-election-results-transmission

3.Authority Nigeria
https://authorityngr.com/2026/02/09/obi-leads-protest-at-nass-over-electronic-transmission-of-election-results

4.ThisDay Live
https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/02/09/obi-storms-nassembly-joins-protesters-to-demand-real-time-results

5.Arise TV
https://www.arise.tv/electoral-act-delay-may-compromise-2027-polls-csos-warn-senate

6.Nigeria Info FM
https://www.nigeriainfo.fm/news/homepagelagos/senate-assures-nigerians-on-electoral-act-amendment

About The Author

Mustapha Labake Omowumi

author

Mustapha Labake Omowumi is a journalist from Ibadan, Oyo State, and a graduate of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Mathematics. He demonstrates a strong commitment to professional journalism, with a keen interest in writing and storytelling, guided by principles of self-discipline, accuracy, and trustworthiness.

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