ABUJA — The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, on Monday, February 9, 2026, joined hundreds of activists and civil society groups at the National Assembly to protest the Senate’s recent rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results.
Clad in his signature black attire, Obi arrived at the protest ground to a thunderous ovation from the crowd, which had converged to demand that the Joint Conference Committee adopt the House of Representatives’ version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which retains the mandatory electronic transmission clause.
‘Technology is Not the Enemy’ — Obi
Addressing the protesters, Obi argued that any attempt to scuttle electronic transmission is a deliberate effort to keep Nigeria in the “dark ages of rigging.” He dismissed the “network coverage” excuse used by the Senate leadership, led by Godswill Akpabio, as a “logistical fallacy.”
“If we can do electronic banking in the remotest parts of this country, we can transmit election results,” Obi declared. “We are here to tell the National Assembly that the will of the people must prevail. You cannot build a nation on a foundation of electoral fraud.”
A United Front Against ‘Renewed Rigging’
Obi’s presence at the National Assembly gate added significant momentum to the outcry from other opposition leaders and senior statesmen.
- The David Mark Intervention: His arrival follows a public rebuke of the Senate by former Senate President David Mark, who told Akpabio to “not speak for INEC” regarding its technical capacity.
- The ADC Warning: The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has already labeled the Senate’s rejection as a “renewed rigging plan” for the 2027 polls.
- PLAC’s Allegations: Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), who was also present, reiterated that the “majority” of Senators did not support the resolution passed by the leadership.
Economic Pain and Political Stakes
The protest is taking place against a backdrop of biting economic hardship. Protesters carried placards linking the “rigging plan” to the ₦152 trillion national debt and the looming ₦1,000 per litre petrol price.
“They want to rig because they know the middle class is vanishing and the people are hungry,” one protester shouted. The crowd also referenced the unilateral ₦7.6 trillion NNPCL debt write-off as evidence that the administration prioritizes corporate bailouts over electoral integrity.
Security Presence
Heavy security was deployed around the National Assembly, with a barricade preventing the protesters from entering the complex. Despite the tension, Obi urged the crowd to remain peaceful but “persistent” in their demand for a transparent 2027 “Patriotic Assignment”.
As of midday Monday, February 9, 2026, the Senate leadership has not sent a representative to address the protesters, though sources say the Joint Conference Committee is currently meeting in a “closed-door session” to finalize the harmonization of the bill.
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Monitoring: National Assembly Tense as Joint Committee Meets; No Invite for Peter Obi Amidst Protests
As of Monday afternoon, February 9, 2026, the Joint Conference Committee on the Electoral Act remains locked in a high-stakes, closed-door session at the National Assembly. Despite the massive crowd outside and the high-profile presence of Mr Peter Obi, legislative sources confirm that no official invitation has been extended to the Labour Party leader or civil society heads for an emergency consultation.
- The Harmonization Deadlock
The Committee is currently battling to reconcile the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission with the House of Representatives’ version that mandates it.
- The ‘Akpabio Factor’: Supporters of the Senate President continue to cite “poor network” as a barrier, a stance famously debunked by David Mark as an attempt to “speak for INEC.”
- The ‘Obi Effect’: Protesters at the gate, led by Obi, are demanding that the House version prevail to prevent what the ADC labels a ‘Renewed Rigging Plan’ for the 2027 polls.
- Security and Civil Disobedience
The atmosphere in Abuja is increasingly volatile:
- Barricades: Security forces have reinforced the National Assembly gate, preventing Obi and the PLAC Director, Clement Nwankwo, from accessing the complex.
- Looming Strikes: Labour unions and youth groups have warned that if the Committee adopts the Senate’s “manual” version, it will trigger a nationwide civil disobedience campaign.
- The Economic Context
The protest has evolved beyond electoral laws, with placards highlighting the “Double Standards” of the Tinubu-led administration:
- The ₦7.6tn Write-Off: Protesters are asking why the government can unilaterally write off ₦7.6 trillion for NNPCL but cannot “afford” the technology to protect the votes of the 133 million Nigerians in poverty.
- The ₦1,000 Petrol Fear: Many see the “rigging plan” as a move to suppress the backlash against the looming ₦1,000 per litre petrol price and the vanishing middle class.
Current Status
While the Senate Media Committee has dismissed the protest as “politically motivated,” the presence of Peter Obi has turned a legislative procedure into a national referendum on trust and transparency.
