Senate Fires Back At Protesters: ‘You’ll Stay On The Streets’ Over Electronic Transmission Debate

Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu has criticized Nigerians protesting the real-time electronic transmission of election results, claiming that citizens tend to complain regardless of the situation.

Prominent politicians, including Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, and other Nigerians, gathered in Abuja for the “Occupy National Assembly” protest against the Senate’s rejection of e-transmission of election results.

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme, Adaramodu said the protesters have historically opposed even positive initiatives.

He stated:
“Those people you saw on the streets are always there, even for good things. If you give them a road, they will say it’s not wide enough. If you give them electricity, they will say the light is not bright enough. It’s the same people, and they will continue to be there.”

Meanwhile, African Democratic Congress (ADC) member Kenneth Okonkwo has criticized the Senate over its amendment of the Electoral Act, accusing lawmakers of undermining Nigeria’s democratic process.

In a statement titled “Nigerians are duped by the Senate” posted on his handle, Okonkwo condemned changes to Section 60 of the Electoral Act, which allows electronic transmission of results but permits manual collation where electronic transmission is not feasible.

He specifically criticized a proposal by Senator Mohammed Monguno, which allows manually generated Form EC8A to be used for result collation if electronic transmission cannot be implemented.

Okonkwo argued that this provision weakens the purpose of electronic transmission by making it optional rather than mandatory.