Tension heightened on Tuesday at the main gate of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja as security forces intensified their presence at the venue of ongoing #OccupyNASS protests demanding mandatory electronic transmission of election results.
The demonstrators, who have staged sustained daily protests, were met with a heavy deployment of armed military and paramilitary personnel, creating what eyewitnesses described as a battle-ready atmosphere around the protest ground.
Civil society observers reported that security operatives from multiple agencies were present, including the Nigerian Army (Guards Brigade), Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Despite the protesters maintaining a peaceful stance, the strong security presence drew criticism from activists and observers, who described it as excessive and potentially undermining democratic freedoms. Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu, who participated in the demonstration, condemned what she termed the militarisation of a peaceful civic gathering, warning that such actions could erode constitutional rights.
Yesufu questioned the involvement of military personnel in civilian protests, arguing that their deployment was unnecessary and diverted focus from pressing national security challenges. She also addressed soldiers present at the venue, urging them to remain mindful of constitutional boundaries and responsibilities while carrying out their duties.
During the protest, she referenced past incidents involving security forces and cautioned against actions that could escalate tensions, encouraging restraint and adherence to lawful orders.
Meanwhile, the protesters reiterated that their demand remains unchanged — the inclusion of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act. One demonstrator emphasised that Nigerians were only calling for greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
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