•Logos of the coalition

COALITION of seven civil society organisations in Nigeria on Monday urged the INEC to issue the election timetable and schedule for the 2027 general election in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 without further delay.

The coalition also called on the conference committee members constituted by the Senate and House of Representatives, to approach the harmonisation deliberations guided by national interest, institutional integrity, and democratic accountability rather than narrow partisan calculations.

The coalition comprises the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC); Elect Her, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa and Yiaga Africa.

In a statement signed by the leadership of the organisations, They noted : ” INEC’s established policy framework schedules general elections for the third Saturday of February in the election year, a convention designed to provide certainty for electoral stakeholders, facilitate systematic planning, and accommodate potential contingencies such as reruns, runoff elections, and post-election litigation.

” Applying this framework to the 2027 cycle yields an election date of February 20, 2027, requiring notice issuance by February 24, 2026.

They pointed out that the delay in concluding the electoral amendment introduces legal uncertainty that may compromise preparations for the 2027 elections.

“Section 28 (1) Electoral Act 2022 empowers INEC to issue a notice of elections 360 days before the date of the election. Legal uncertainty created by ongoing amendments has apparently deterred INEC from releasing the timetable for the 2027 elections, placing the Commission in potential violation of the extant law,” said the coalition, demanding that the National Assembly should expeditiously conclude the amendment process and transmit the final bill to the President within two weeks.

“As key stakeholders in the electoral process, we urge citizens and all stakeholders to demand accountable representation from their legislators in the National Assembly by pressuring them to prioritise the public interest and the integrity of the elections by passing the provisions on real-time electronic transmission of election results, curtailing the disenfranchisement of voters by introducing downloadable PVCs, and resisting any attempt to weaken established timelines that are crucial for conducting the elections,” they said.

• Peter Obi address the protesters

Protesters on Monday besieged the entrance of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, insisting that electronic transmission of results is critical to strengthening trust in Nigeria’s elections.

The protest, tagged ‘Occupy National Assembly’, follows the Senate’s recent passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, during which the lawmakers rejected a proposal to make electronic transmission of results mandatory, a decision that has continued to attract criticism from civil society groups and opposition figures across the country.

The protest, organised by Nigerian youths, pro-democracy activists and civil society groups, was joined by Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election ( and now in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) party.

Obi faulted the Senate’s decision and urged lawmakers to allow the electoral process to run without restrictions.

“Allow the election to go through the normal process. Whatever the outcome is, we will accept it. Why introduce confusion after the process?” he said.

Obi emphasised that the rejection of electronic transmission of results by the Senate undermines public confidence in the electoral process and raises concerns about transparency and credibility ahead of future elections.

The protesters called on the National Assembly to reconsider the clause in the interest of democratic integrity.

Participants at the demonstration included members of civil society organisations, women’s groups and a handful of members of the opposition , who converged at the main entrance of the National Assembly early on Monday morning.

A former member of the Abia State House of Assembly, representing Ukwa East Constituency, Chief Paul Taribo, along with Mrs Theresa Oxford Nwabara and their supporters numbering over 100, have defected to the Labour Party in the state.

Chief Taribo, who was until recently a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said that his decision to join the Labour Party was motivated by Governor Alex Otti’s achievements and his desire to contribute to the Governor’s re-election in 2027.

The former APC chieftain pledged his loyalty and commitment to the Labour Party, assuring members of his readiness to work to deepen the party’s presence and influence in Ikwueke East Ward and Ukwa East council Area.

The former APC chieftain pledged his loyalty and commitment to the Labour Party, assuring members of his readiness to work to deepen the party’s presence and influence in Ikwueke East Ward and Ukwa East council Area.

Chief Taribo expressed his confidence in Otti’s leadership style, vision, and developmental agenda, as well as that of the Chairman of Ukwa East council, Hon. Chibunna Akara.

He said; “I left my former party , the APC, to join the Labour Party, because I m motivated by the visible achievements of Governor Alex Otti and the desire to contribute to his re-election.

These are the major factors that informed my decision to align with the Labour Party.

”In his remarks, Chairman of Ukwa East LGA, Hon. Chibunna Akara described the ex-lawmaker as a valuable addition to the party, stressing that the Labour Party remains a broad, inclusive platform that welcomes all well-meaning individuals committed to service and development, regardless of their political background.