Popular activist Randy Peters has accused Nigeria’s political class of betraying the ideals of democracy, as protests against the Senate’s rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results intensified at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Peters, who addressed demonstrators on Monday, vowed that protesters would return daily until lawmakers reverse their position. He described the Senate’s action as a direct affront to the principles of free and fair elections, which he said many members of the current political leadership once championed.
“Tomorrow, we will be back here until the Senate does the right thing,” Peters declared. “The current administration supported the June 12 campaign. That struggle was about free and fair elections.”
Invoking the spirit of the June 12, 1993 presidential election—widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history—the activist questioned why elected leaders would resist reforms designed to strengthen the credibility of the electoral process.
Peters warned that opposition to transparent electoral reforms raises concerns about the commitment of political leaders to democracy, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Do we have democrats who are afraid of losing elections?” he asked. “In 2027, our votes must count. The most important thing is that our votes must count. Tomorrow, they will meet us here again.”
The protest forms part of growing public pressure on lawmakers to adopt reforms that guarantee transparency and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
