Civil society organisations, along with ex-presidential candidate Peter Obi, on Monday protested against the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate over the removal of the provision for the real-time transmission of election results from the Electoral Act.

The protest was held at the main entrance of the National Assembly in Abuja.

Police officers and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were stationed on the premises, while the intersecting roads leading to the parliament’s complex were partitioned with their vehicles.

The protesters stormed the centre area at about 9:30 a.m. to demand passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which provides for the real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units and is currently under consideration by the Senate.

The protester marched through the streets of Abuja carrying protest placards with several inscriptions, including ‘Say No To Electoral Fraud’, ‘We Reject The Senate’s Rejection’, ‘Akpabio, E-Transmission Is A Must’, and ‘Transmission Is Progress Not Retrogression’, among others.

Mr Obi joined the protesters around 10:00 a.m.

The Senate has faced widespread criticism following its refusal to pass the bill mandating the electronic transmission of election results into law on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Mr Akpabio has announced an emergency plenary for Tuesday (tomorrow).