Fatimah Otunsanya
The Nigerian Police Force has come under fire after its operatives allegedly fired tear gas at protesters who stormed the National Assembly on Tuesday, demanding the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.
The demonstrators, who returned to the National Assembly complex after a five-day break, had earlier suspended their protests following assurances given during last Tuesday’s sitting.
It would be recalled that the Senate had reconvened for an emergency plenary session last Tuesday to revisit its controversial decision on Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, after widespread public outcry.
During the session, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), moved a motion to strip the phrase “real-time” from the clause, while also replacing the word “transmission” with “transfer” — a move that drew sharp criticism from civil society groups and electoral reform advocates.