Electoral Act amendment: Network excuse no longer acceptable – Peter Obi

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has renewed calls for real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing claims of poor network coverage in parts of the country as no longer acceptable.

Obi made the call in a statement released on Tuesday after he participated in the “Occupy National Assembly” protest over the Electoral Act amendment. The statement, titled “Identifying with the People Peacefully for Electoral Integrity,” said his participation was aimed at pressing for urgent reforms to protect the credibility of Nigeria’s elections.

“Yesterday, February 9th, I participated in a peaceful protest at the National Assembly to demand urgent electoral reforms that truly reflect the will of the Nigerian people,” Obi said.

According to him, the demands of the protesters were “clear and non-negotiable,” stressing that public office holders must emerge through transparent processes.

“Anyone seeking to hold titles such as Honourable, Distinguished, or Excellency must emerge through a transparent and honourable process,” he said.

Obi also called for stricter enforcement of eligibility requirements for political office, insisting that aspirants should present verifiable educational records and meet all constitutional conditions.

“Aspirants for public office should provide verifiable records of their primary, secondary, and tertiary education, along with fulfilling other constitutional requirements such as age and qualifications,” he said, adding that candidates must also subject themselves to open campaigns, public scrutiny and debates as required by law.

On the controversy surrounding the transmission of results, Obi said electronic transmission in real time remains central to credible elections.

“Most importantly, election results must be transmitted electronically and in real time to protect the people’s mandate and eliminate manipulation,” he said.

He dismissed arguments about limited network infrastructure, noting that financial institutions already operate digital systems across the country.

“Claims that certain states lack network coverage are no longer acceptable. Financial institutions operate nationwide through secure digital networks to conduct transactions and collect taxes on a daily basis,” Obi said.

He further urged Nigerian youths to sustain pressure on lawmakers, saying, “As the agitation continues, I urge our youth, who turned out in large numbers, to remain steadfast and not relent until the necessary reforms are achieved.”

Obi said Nigeria must move away from practices that undermine democratic credibility and work towards building “a nation built on order, justice, and trust.”

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