Police disperse protesters demanding electoral reform with tear gas at National Assembly (video)

Men of the Nigeria Police Force used tear gas canisters to disperse demonstrators who gathered at the National Assembly in Abuja to demand total reform in the electoral framework.

Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, former minister Solomon Dalung and many others had gathered in front of the National Assembly to demand reforms to strengthen electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections. The police thereafter opened teargas canisters to disperse the protesters.

While speaking to newsmen after the tear gas was fired, Sowore said the police used force against peaceful demonstrators and described their action as an assault on democratic expression.

He claimed some protesters collapsed following exposure to tear gas and called on Nigerians to mobilise in defence 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 is 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 be heading 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.

Demonstrators insisted the measures were necessary to enhance transparency, improve preparation by electoral stakeholders, and rebuild public confidence in the electoral process.

Despite the dispersal, protest organisers insisted citizens would continue to press their demands, urging lawmakers in the Conference Committee of the National Assembly to act in the public interest and strengthen electoral transparency.

Watch a video of a protesters running for safety after the tear gas was fired below…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lindaikejiblog (@lindaikejiblogofficial)