NIGERIAN COALITION REJECTS SENATE DECISION ON ELECTION RESULTS TRANSMISSION, ENDORSES PROTESTS

A newly formed coalition of leading Nigerian political activists, the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), has vehemently rejected the Senate’s decision to remove the clause mandating electronic transmission of election results from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026. In a statement, the group described the lawmakers’ action as a direct assault on the right of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders.

Media Coordinator, MCE, Comrade James Ezema, in a statement, said the National Assembly has chosen opacity over transparency and manipulation over credibility. “This is not lawmaking—it is deliberate democratic sabotage against the aspiration of the people of our country,” Ezema stated.

The coalition, which includes notable figures such as Ayuba Wabba, Usman Bugaje, Femi Falana, Oby Ezekwesili, Pat Utomi, and others, argues that mandatory electronic transmission is a minimum safeguard against tampering and fraud. Ezema further asserted, “Any legislature that blocks it is openly defending a system that thrives on electoral corruption, stolen mandates and manufactured elections.”

The MCE warned that the Senate’s rejection means the manipulation of results between polling units and collation centers will persist, risking greater voter apathy and further erosion of public trust in elections. The group also endorsed the ‘Occupy NASS’ mass protests scheduled for Monday, February 9th, 2026, in Abuja, calling on citizens and allies to mobilize peacefully.

Additionally, Ezema confirmed that the coalition’s eminent leaders will address the world in Lagos on Monday on the action plan for credible elections in 2027. The MCE demands the National Assembly immediately reinstate the electronic transmission clause and publicly identify members who opposed it.

Ezema concluded by advocating for a Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system alongside electronic transmission, stating, “Democracy dies when votes are allowed to be stolen. It is time to end electoral rigging in Nigeria.”