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Men of the Nigeria Police Force deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators who had gathered at the National Assembly in Abuja, calling for comprehensive reforms in the country’s electoral framework.
Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, former minister Solomon Dalung, and other citizens assembled to demand measures that would strengthen electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections. The police subsequently fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Speaking to journalists after the incident, Sowore condemned the police action, describing it as an assault on democratic expression. He said several protesters collapsed after exposure to tear gas and urged Nigerians to mobilize in defense of electoral integrity and civil liberties.
“This has translated now to a total declaration of war on Nigerians. This is a coup against democracy. For the first time, the police are using compressed containers that penetrate through your skin on Nigerians. Over two people have collapsed in this place now. This is not going to be accepted. We are calling on Nigerians to head down to the National Assembly,” Sowore said.
The protesters’ key demands included real-time electronic transmission of election results, restoration of a 360-day statutory timeline for issuing election notices, and tougher penalties for vote buying. They argued that these reforms are necessary to enhance transparency, improve preparation by electoral stakeholders, and rebuild public confidence in the electoral process.
Despite the dispersal, organisers reaffirmed that citizens would continue to press their demands, urging lawmakers in the National Assembly Conference Committee to act in the public interest and strengthen electoral transparency.
