Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday fired tear gas at demonstrators gathered at the National Assembly Complex, as protests intensified over proposed changes to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.
The protesters had assembled to demand the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results in the legislation.
Their return to the complex followed a five-day pause after lawmakers earlier assured them that concerns raised would be reconsidered.
Tension escalated after the Nigerian Senate reconvened for an emergency plenary to revisit Clause 60(3) of the bill, which has generated widespread public debate and criticism from civil society organisations and electoral reform advocates.
During deliberations, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno moved a motion proposing the removal of the phrase “real-time” from the clause and the substitution of the word “transmission” with “transfer.”
The proposal triggered renewed outrage among protesters, who argued that the change could weaken transparency in the electoral process.
Security operatives subsequently moved to disperse the crowd with tear gas as demonstrators attempted to maintain their presence at the complex, insisting that credible elections depend on immediate electronic transmission of results.
