Peter Obi Leads Protest at NASS, Demands End to Electoral Fraud

Former presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, on Tuesday joined thousands of protesters at the National Assembly in Abuja, calling for an end to what he described as entrenched electoral “criminality” and urging Nigeria to reclaim its place as a democratic model for Africa.

The protest, organised under the banner of the National Opposition Movement, brought together opposition political parties, civil society organisations and election monitoring groups. Demonstrators barricaded major entrances to the National Assembly complex as heavy security presence restricted movement in and out of the premises.

Addressing the crowd, Obi said Nigeria must dismantle systemic electoral malpractice and build a nation that “shows light in Africa,” insisting that the will of the people must no longer be subverted through manipulation of election results.

Prominent civil society figures at the protest included ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, Aisha Yusuf, Ene, and representatives of Situation Room, alongside activists from various rights groups.

One of the speakers, Queen, decried what she described as persistent rigging of elections, stressing that results recorded at polling units must be the same as those announced. She demanded compulsory electronic transmission of results and accused the National Assembly of ignoring citizens’ demands for credible elections ahead of 2027.

Spokesperson of the National Opposition Movement, Mr. Ike, said the protest was triggered by reports that the Senate had rejected proposals for mandatory electronic transmission of results. He described the collation stage as the weakest link in Nigeria’s electoral process and called for severe penalties for anyone found tampering with election results.

The protesters also dismissed claims that poor infrastructure could hinder electronic transmission, citing the widespread use of POS machines and electronic meters across the country.

They warned that the protest would escalate if the National Assembly fails to act on their demands after receiving a formal letter, signalling rising political tension as Nigeria moves closer to the next general elections.