The Obidient Movement has condemned the Senate’s rejection of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment to the Electoral Act, describing the decision as a major setback for Nigeria’s democratic progress.

In a statement issued on Friday, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, said the retention of manual collation provisions in the amendment raises serious concerns about transparency and credibility in future elections.

Tanko warned that the move could reopen loopholes that allegedly undermined public trust during the 2023 general elections, particularly controversies surrounding the failure to upload polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which officials attributed to technical glitches.

According to him, rejecting compulsory real-time transmission of results amounts to weakening electoral safeguards and encouraging manipulation.

He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led majority in the National Assembly of inconsistency, arguing that while the party deploys electronic systems for its internal primaries, it is unwilling to make such transparency measures compulsory for national elections.

The group announced plans to stage a peaceful mass protest at the National Assembly, demanding that lawmakers urgently reconvene and pass legislation that makes real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results to the IReV portal mandatory.

Tanko said details of the planned protest would be released through the movement’s official communication channels, calling on Nigerians at home and abroad, civil society groups, and the international community to support what he described as a push to protect democratic standards.

He added that the movement remains committed to non-violent civic action aimed at strengthening electoral accountability and public confidence in the democratic process.