Activists Call for Accountability After Police Break Up Abuja Election Reform Rally

Civil society organisations and human rights advocates in Nigeria have condemned a heavy-handed police response to demonstrators calling for more transparent election processes at the National Assembly in Abuja. The protesters, drawn from youth groups and reform advocates, had gathered to push for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections — a reform they say is essential to strengthening trust in the electoral system.

According to reports, security forces fired tear gas to break up the rally on Tuesday, forcing crowds to scatter after hours of chanting and holding placards outside the legislative complex. Among those present were well-known activists and some political figures who have criticised lawmakers for removing or weakening provisions on electronic result transmission from the proposed Electoral Act amendment bill.

Several protest organisers strongly condemned the use of force, calling the crackdown an affront to citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful protest and a setback for democratic engagement. One advocacy group has threatened legal action against both the police and the National Assembly, demanding a transparent inquiry into the policing tactics used during the demonstration.

Supporters of the protest say the demand for mandated e-transmission of results is aimed at preventing manipulation during manual collation and increasing transparency in elections — a demand that has gained urgency among civil rights campaigners after recent legislative decisions.