A former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has called for the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results, saying it would reduce deaths during elections.
Amaechi made the call on Tuesday while addressing protesters at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The protesters demanded that the proposed Electoral Act amendment compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit results electronically from polling units in real time.
“The advantage is that very few people will die on the election field. Very few Nigerians. You are saving the lives of Nigerians,” Amaechi told the crowd.
He warned that election seasons are often marked by killings while officials shield themselves with security forces.
Amaechi’s intervention comes amid debates over the 2027 Electoral Act amendment, particularly whether electronic transmission should be mandatory or left to INEC’s discretion.
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Civil society groups, youth organisations, and other concerned citizens staged a sit-in protest at the National Assembly, carrying mattresses and pillows to signal their resolve to remain until their demands are met.
“If you think they won’t rig, you’re wasting time. To stop them from rigging, we must come out in large numbers… We must mobilise to march police for police,” Amaechi said.
“When they see the number of people who have come out, they will join.”
Expressing frustration with what he described as government indifference, Amaechi said: “The problem is not even Ribadu. Even the president doesn’t think the citizens matter.”
He added, “The only way to save Nigerians from electoral violence is to allow transmission, re-transmission.”
The former governor also cited international law while warning against excessive force on voters.
“There is a number you are not allowed to kill… Whoever gave that instruction must account for it. Tinubu won’t travel out of this country after his presidency if those people are killed,” he said.
Amaechi urged sustained nationwide mobilisation, saying, “If there are 300,000 policemen, bring out 600,000 Nigerians… We must wake up. We must mobilise much, much more.”
Amaechi’s remarks follow similar calls by former presidential candidate Peter Obi, who also joined the protest demanding electoral transparency, as pressure mounts on lawmakers to make real-time electronic transmission compulsory.
