By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
Abuja
A former Minister of Sports, Simon Dalong, has joined the protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, demanding the inclusion of the “real time” clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. Dalong emphasized that the protesters are not there to play games, but to ensure that their voices are heard.
“We are not here to play, because the people who destroyed our lives, they are not playing,” Dalong said. “They are taking billions of naira every week, every month, yet they can’t give us electoral reform. Is it normal?”
Dalong urged Nigerians to come together and demand change, saying “let’s remind ourselves why we are here and why we will continue to sit here.” He added that the protesters will wait until their demands are met.
According to Dalong, the National Assembly members are currently meeting to decide on their next course of action. “They are inside now, meeting, literally,” he said. “They will decide, and we will be told the next action.”
The protesters are demanding electoral reform, saying that the current system is flawed. “Are we lazy? Are we bandits of Nigeria?” Dalong asked. “Political bandits, they are the bandits. My vote, I have a vote, my vote.”
Dalong emphasized that the protesters are not just fighting for themselves, but for the future of Nigeria. “We are not just people who wake up every day,” he said. “We have plans for our lives, and we will not be ignored.”
The protesters claim that they have been at the National Assembly for some time to demand the change. “We are not just walking around this place like we don’t have work,” Dalong said. “We have work, and we will not be silenced.”
The protest is part of a larger movement demanding electoral reform and good governance in Nigeria. The protesters are urging Nigerians to join them in demanding change and holding politicians accountable for their actions.
The inclusion of the “real time” clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is seen as a crucial step towards ensuring transparent and credible elections in Nigeria. The protesters are determined to see this through.
The protest is ongoing, with the protesters vowing to continue until their demands are met.
