An unusual scene unfolded on Monday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, as protesters were spotted carrying a mattress and a pillow during a demonstration over the Electoral Act amendment.
Some of the protesters were also seen lying on mattresses and pillows at the protest ground, drawing attention as demonstrators gathered to demand the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units.
The protest comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding the amendment of the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly over whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be mandated to transmit results electronically in real time.
While many Nigerians have called on lawmakers to make real-time electronic transmission compulsory, some legislators have argued that the provision should remain discretionary, citing logistical and infrastructural concerns.
Protesters on Monday stormed the entrance of the National Assembly, insisting that the proposed legislation must explicitly include the phrase “real-time electronic transmission”, despite several clarifications from the Senate denying reports that it rejected the clause.
