Wednesday, February 18 2026 - 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 organizers 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
Police fire tear gas at protesters demanding electoral reforms at National Assembly pic.twitter.com/7nIk2LKxGg
— DAILY POST 🇳🇬 (@dailypost_ng) February 18, 2026
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