Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday joined protesters in Abuja opposing the Senate’s decision to reject mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, declaring that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is “afraid” of transparent elections.
Amaechi attended the protest alongside his son, a medical doctor, as demonstrations against the Electoral Act Amendment Bill continued for a second day near the National Assembly complex.
The protest, which began on Monday, was triggered by the Senate’s refusal to amend the Electoral Act to make real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units compulsory.
Speaking to journalists at the protest ground, Amaechi explained that he brought his son along in case the demonstration turned violent and people sustained injuries.
“I brought my son because if there is trouble and people are injured, at least there is a doctor here,” he said.
He added that leaders should not send others to the streets while staying away themselves.
“When people protest, leaders should be at the front with their families. That is the only way to show you truly believe in the cause,” Amaechi said.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also threw its weight behind the protest, calling on Nigerians and opposition parties to take to the streets in defence of credible elections.
Amaechi accused the APC of resisting electronic transmission of results out of fear of losing future elections.
“I believe all opposition parties should be here — PDP, ADC, everybody. This is about stopping one party from manipulating the system,” he said.
“What are they afraid of? They say they have 31 governors. They say people are defecting to them every day. Tinubu is not Jonathan. If you are confident you are popular, you should not fear electronic transmission of results,” he added.
He argued that transparent elections are the only true measure of performance for any government.
“The only way a good politician knows he has done well is when the people vote freely and their votes count,” Amaechi said.
The former governor insisted that while Senate President Godswill Akpabio and President Bola Tinubu might choose to ignore public outcry, opposition parties and civil society groups would continue to resist what he described as an attempt to weaken Nigeria’s electoral process.
Meanwhile, security operatives barricaded major roads leading to the National Assembly on Tuesday ahead of an emergency Senate plenary session convened to address the controversy surrounding the Electoral Act amendments.
The protest is being led by human rights activist Aisha Yusuf, alongside several civil society organisations, with demonstrators insisting they will sustain pressure until lawmakers reverse their position on real-time electronic transmission of election results.
