ABUJA — A coalition of civil society organisations and organised labour groups under the banner of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) staged a large protest at the National Assembly, demanding sweeping constitutional and legislative reforms to secure credible elections ahead of 2027.
The demonstration, held in Abuja, drew governance advocates, labour leaders, youth organisations and electoral reform campaigners. Protesters warned lawmakers that failure to introduce mandatory reforms could further weaken public trust in democracy and heighten political instability.
Addressing journalists and demonstrators at the National Assembly complex, MCE leaders said repeated irregularities — including vote buying, electoral violence, voter suppression and manipulation of results — had eroded confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. The coalition insisted that weak enforcement of electoral laws had deepened public frustration.
A statement on behalf of the group was delivered by Prince Adewale Adebayo, former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party. The address was endorsed by a wide range of civic, labour and policy leaders, alongside prominent advisers drawn from across governance and advocacy circles.
Push for Mandatory E-Transmission and Electoral Reforms
At the centre of the protest was a firm demand for compulsory, real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Result Viewing Portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission. (INEC)
The coalition accused lawmakers of weakening reform provisions by inserting discretionary clauses that could permit manual interference with election results. According to the group, electronic transmission must be immediate, mandatory and legally protected to eliminate manipulation between polling units and collation centres.
MCE warned that unless urgent reforms are enacted, the credibility of the 2027 general elections could be severely compromised.
The coalition described Nigeria’s electoral challenges as systemic, pointing to recurring logistical failures, inconsistent deployment of technology and alleged post-poll manipulation during result collation and declaration. These, it said, represent structural defects within the country’s electoral governance framework and risk fuelling public distrust.
Beyond electronic transmission, MCE unveiled a twelve-point reform programme aimed at strengthening provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, particularly in accreditation, collation and declaration processes.
The group also called for tougher penalties and enforceable prosecution for electoral offences such as vote buying, intimidation and destruction of election materials. Other demands included guaranteed statutory funding for INEC to protect its independence and independent audits of electoral technologies to prevent system failures.
Legislative reforms to expand participation for youth, women, persons with disabilities and Nigerians in the diaspora were also proposed, alongside early voting provisions for essential workers including security personnel and healthcare providers.
Pressure Mounts for Institutional and Party Accountability
MCE further pressed for stricter enforcement of internal party democracy, transparent primaries and stronger oversight of party finances. It urged constitutional amendments requiring election petitions to be resolved before winners are sworn into office.
The coalition also called for limits on pre-election judicial interventions that disrupt electoral timelines, sanctions for political defections through automatic loss of office, and transparent merit-based appointments into INEC leadership positions.
The group pledged sustained peaceful protests under its Occupy National Assembly campaign until comprehensive reforms are adopted. It also advocated introducing a Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail to complement electronic transmission.
Organised labour backed the protest, including the Nigeria Labour Congress led by Joe Ajaero and the Trade Union Congress headed by Festus Osifo. Both organisations endorsed calls for credible elections as essential for national stability and effective governance.
MCE leaders warned that Nigeria stands at a decisive democratic crossroads, stressing that credible elections are fundamental to tackling governance failures, insecurity and economic challenges.
“Democracy collapses when votes are stolen,” the coalition declared, urging lawmakers to align with public demands for transparency and accountability.
Mobilisation Drive Gains Momentum Ahead of 2027
Speaking during the protest, former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili warned that efforts to weaken electronic transmission provisions could amount to what she described as a “coup against democracy.”
She urged lawmakers to adopt the version of the electoral amendment bill passed by the House of Representatives, which mandates real-time electronic transmission, rather than the version from the Senate that grants discretionary powers.
“The Senate’s version gives discretionary powers that open the door to manipulation, while the House version ensures transparency and accountability,” she said.
She added, “The only way every vote can count is through mandatory, real-time electronic transmission of results. Anything less is unacceptable.”
Ezekwesili also criticised provisions referencing network failure, calling them potential legal loopholes. “Every law must be clear and unambiguous. Introducing excuses like network failure is a pretext for rigging. Nigerians must not accept this,” she warned.
She told citizens, “Democracy belongs to the people, not to a few politicians who have rigged themselves into office.” She further warned that any law that “programs rigging into our elections” would signal disregard for citizens.
“2027 must not mark the end of our democracy. Any election that lacks credibility will not be acceptable to Nigerians. We must confront this nonsense and demand accountability,” she said.
Support for the protest also came from the Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries International, whose leader Isah EL-Buba called for expanded nationwide mobilisation.
He described the campaign for credible elections as a struggle requiring action on multiple fronts. “We must expand the frontiers of this battle as quickly as possible. You cannot take power from these people by one means only,” he said.
Addressing young people, he urged them to take ownership of the country’s future, declaring that mass participation could reshape political outcomes. He also criticised the scale of current protests and urged broader mobilisation.
Framing the movement as part of a wider national awakening, he said, “Each time Nigeria had a little bit of consciousness, there’s always an uprising before it. I think we are due for another uprising, and the only way to get this is to organize and confront these people.”
The gathering ended with renewed calls for nationwide civic engagement and sustained pressure on lawmakers to enact electoral reforms before the 2027 general elections.
