The Obidient Movement, a prominent supporter base associated with the Labour Party and Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the Nigerian Senate’s recent decision not to make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026.
In a statement released on February 6, 2026, and signed by Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, the group described the Senate’s action as a “deliberate and unforgivable act of electoral manipulation” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The movement argued that by rejecting a proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, which would have required presiding officers to transmit results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time after signing and stamping prescribed forms, the Senate has preserved provisions allowing for manual collation and discretion by INEC in how results are transferred.
The statement highlighted the controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections, where the absence of full mandatory electronic transmission contributed to disputes, allegations of manipulation, and claims of a “glitch” that undermined public trust.
The Obidient Movement accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which holds a majority in the National Assembly, of hypocrisy for using electronic processes internally while denying similar transparency in national elections.
“This action… represents a direct assault on the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement read. “By refusing to mandate the electronic transmission of results… the Senate has chosen to institutionalise chaos and opacity.”
The group criticized Nigeria for lagging behind other African nations in adopting technology to bolster electoral integrity, calling the decision a “shameful” step backward for the country as the “Giant of Africa.”
In response, the Obidient Movement announced plans for a peaceful march to the National Assembly to demand that both chambers hold an emergency session to revisit the issue and pass legislation mandating real-time electronic transmission to the IReV portal.
The date for the march will be announced through the movement’s communication channels.
The movement urged Nigerians, civil society organizations, and the international community to join the resistance against what it termed a “dangerous backward slide” and “democratic sabotage.”
It emphasized that the criminality seen in 2023 would not be tolerated in 2027 and called for collective action to “reclaim our country.”
The Senate passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 on February 4, 2026, introducing changes such as adjustments to election timelines and penalties for electoral offenses.
However, it rejected the mandatory real-time transmission provision, opting to retain the existing clause from the 2022 Electoral Act that allows presiding officers to transfer results “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other lawmakers, including members of the minority caucus, have clarified that electronic transmission was not rejected outright, as the law still permits it at INEC’s discretion.
They insisted the chamber retained provisions for electronic processes and that reports of a complete rejection were misleading.
The decision has sparked widespread debate and criticism from various quarters, including civil society groups like Yiaga Africa and the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), who have expressed concerns over its implications for electoral transparency and credibility in future polls.
The Obidient Movement concluded its statement with the rallying cries: “A stitch in time saves nine. A New Nigeria is Possible.”
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
