Nigerian Senate's Electoral Act Amendment Protest

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed strong support for a protest led by former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi against the Nigeria===National Assembly (Nigeria). The protest targeted the Senate's decision to remove the phrase 'real-time' from provisions on electronic transmission of election results in the proposed Electoral Act amendments. El-Rufai, currently out of Nigeria, stated he would have joined the demonstration, emphasizing that real-time electronic transmission is crucial for preventing electoral manipulation, which he believes primarily occurs during collation, not at polling units. He accused the ruling Nigeria===All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu's administration of opposing the measure for political survival. Peter Obi, leading the 'Occupy the National Assembly' protest, warned that democratic progress in Nigeria is under threat and called for lawmakers to guarantee electronic transmission of results by law. Security forces blocked access to the National Assembly Complex, forcing protesters to rally outside.