Just In: Protest Begins in Abuja over Electoral Act Controversy

Protesters, on Monday morning, began converging on the entrance of the National Assembly in Abuja for the “Occupy National Assembly” protest.

There was a heavy security presence at the scene, with personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The protest is against the backdrop of the Senate’s position on the electronic transmission of election results.

Although the Senate has issued several clarifications over reports that it rejected electronic transmission of results, the protesters insist that lawmakers must be explicit by including the phrase “real-time electronic transmission” in the proposed legislation.

Members of civil society organisations, a handful of opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) members, and some women’s groups are gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly for the protest.

The police have already barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly.

Some members of the civil society groups, who spoke to Channels Television, disclosed that the protesters do not intend to enter the National Assembly premises, as the protest is expected to take place mainly at the entrance.

The protesters have begun their march from the Federal Secretariat, heading towards the National Assembly gate.