Former Minister of Transportation and ex–Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has called on Nigerians to firmly oppose the Senate’s decision to remove the clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results. He made the appeal on Tuesday at the National Assembly protest ground in Abuja, where demonstrators have continued to gather against the amendment to the Electoral Act.
Amaechi said his decision to attend the protest with his first son, Chikamkpa Amaechi, a medical doctor, was deliberate. According to him, politicians are often accused of encouraging protests while shielding their families from the risks. “That is why I brought my own son, who is a medical doctor,” Amaechi said. “His duty here is to treat any protester who may be injured today.”
The former governor stressed the need for sustained public pressure, urging more citizens to join the demonstration at the National Assembly. He warned that weakening the electoral law would undermine transparency and public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that Nigerians must speak with one voice against the change.
Amaechi’s appearance followed days of growing protests over the Senate’s handling of the Electoral Act amendments. Earlier demonstrations were led by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, under the banner of the National Opposition Movement, as protesters demanded compulsory electronic transmission of results and accused the National Assembly of attempting to dilute electoral safeguards.