Members of the Arawak Grassroots Leaders Assembly (AGLA) on Friday staged a peaceful solidarity protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, commending the commission for measurable progress in electoral integrity, digital transparency and logistics coordination.
The protesters, led by AGLA National President Onoghu Collins, said their gathering was not a protest of condemnation but a protest of encouragement, aimed at consolidating the reforms initiated under the current leadership of INEC.
“We have gathered peacefully today to lend our voice not in condemnation but in praise.
“This is a protest of solidarity and a protest of encouragement. Nigeria sees progress, and we want that to continue,” Collins told reporters.
The group praised INEC's handling of the three recent electoral exercises, the Anambra State Governorship election, the FCT Area Council election and the by-elections held in Kano State and Rivers State.
According to Collins, the elections were widely considered by domestic and international observers to be peaceful, procedurally transparent, technically progressive, and administratively coordinated.
He attributed this to reforms initiated since the appointment of INEC Chairman George Amupitan in October 2025, noting that the commission has demonstrated “administrative will, institutional courage and commitment to electoral reform”.
Central to AGLA's appreciation was the enhancement of the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IREV), which the group described as a significant leap forward in Nigeria's electoral technology infrastructure.
Collins highlighted notable improvements during the FCT Area Council elections and subsequent by-elections, including improved server uptime, faster upload speeds and the introduction of a dual-layer verification mechanism.
“The process now requires the Presiding Officers to upload the polling unit result sheets, as well as input the party scores into the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
“The upgraded IReV system demonstrated better server stability and faster upload speeds compared to previous election cycles.
“The system architecture ensured that votes recorded could not exceed those of recognized voters, thereby protecting the integrity of the results,” he said.
He said the portal now generates traceable metadata such as device identification numbers and upload timestamps, creating a digital audit trail that supports post-poll reviews and increases public trust.
He said citizens and political parties were able to access polling unit results in real time, strengthening the openness of the electoral process.
While commending the Commission, AGLA urged INEC to consolidate the gains recorded.
“Electoral reform is not an event; it is a journey. We urge the President and the Commission to collaborate with stakeholders to strengthen results management systems, expand technology deployment, deepen staff training, and establish backup networks in areas with limited connectivity”, Collins said.
The group also cautioned political actors, media organizations and citizens against the spread of misinformation that undermines public trust in electoral institutions.
Collins said, “Nigeria's democracy is secure when elections are credible. Concerns must be raised responsibly and factually.”
Responding on behalf of the Commission, the National Commissioner of INEC, Abdullahi Zuru, thanked the group for showing support and assured Nigerians that the Commission will stand firm on its mandate.
Zuru said, “We will not back down. We will continue to ensure that we will do whatever is necessary for our democracy to prosper. We only seek the understanding and cooperation of Nigerians.”
He explained that the INEC Chairman was away on official business but would be briefed on the solidarity visit and the message given by the group.
He said, “Everything that is done under his leadership is done in the name and interest of Nigeria. We are committed to progress and continuous improvement.”
