A peaceful demonstration at Nigeria’s National Assembly in Abuja advocating for mandatory electronic transmission of election results escalated on Tuesday when security personnel deployed tear gas against the gathered citizens.
The protest, attended primarily by youth activists, aimed to present a petition demanding transparency in the electoral process through the real-time electronic transmission of results. The situation turned chaotic following the use of tear gas by security operatives to disperse the crowd.
Among those present was religious leader Prophet Isa El-Buba, who recently returned from a trip to the United States. El-Buba stated he was directly affected by the tear gas. “I was tear gassed at the National Assembly, in my own country, for what reason?” he asked. He contrasted the response in Nigeria with his recent experiences abroad, noting, “I was not tear gassed when I demanded to talk with American congressmen, they listened.” He condemned the action as an unnecessary show of force against citizens peacefully calling for their voices to be heard.
Activist Randy-Peter Akah, a prominent voice since the protest resumed, linked the incident to broader national challenges. “We cannot detach ourselves from the suffering of our fellow citizens,” he said, referencing recent violence in states like Kwara, Plateau, and Benue. “How long will Nigeria continue to harm its citizens instead of doing the right thing?” Akah reiterated the core demand: “Our vote must count. We want mandatory, real electronic transmission of results.”
The incident underscores persistent tensions surrounding electoral integrity in Nigeria, where civil society and activists regularly push for reforms to ensure transparent and accountable elections. Despite the dispersal, protesters vowed to sustain their campaign, urging citizens to take collective responsibility for safeguarding democratic processes.
The use of force against a peaceful assembly is likely to draw further scrutiny from rights groups and could intensify public debate on the methods employed by security agencies during civic actions. The protesters have indicated their movement will continue until legislative or electoral authorities enact their demanded reforms for electronic result transmission.
