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Activist Omoyele Sowore on Tuesday alleged that police used an unfamiliar gas, which he referred to as “nerve gas,” during an electoral reform protest at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Since Monday, hundreds of people have gathered at the National Assembly once more to demand that the 2026 Electoral Act Amendment Bill include real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Recall that last Tuesday, the Senate met again for an emergency plenary to review its previous ruling on Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), the Senate Chief Whip, moved to substitute “transfer” for “transmission” and eliminate the word “real-time.”
Sowore said, speaking at the protest venue, “For the first time, the police are using nerve gas on Nigerians.”
He claimed the substance was released from “a compressed container that penetrates through your skin,” adding that “about two people have collapsed inside this place now.”
Sowore described the development as “a total declaration of war on Nigerians” and “a declaration of war against participatory democracy.”
He also said, “This is a coup against democracy. And we must fight to finish.”
Calling on supporters to mobilise, Sowore said, “We are calling on Nigerians to be heading down to the National Assembly. There ought to be a showdown.”
He also criticised restrictions around access to the National Assembly complex, stating, “When you go to the U.S., even when you are a visitor from another country, you have access to the Capitol Hall.
“Why can’t we get into our own National Assembly without being separated by the police from so-called elected representatives of the people?”
Sowore added that protesters wanted access to observe proceedings.
“We want to be part of the gallery where the emergency meeting is holding so that we can make sure and monitor, which is within our rights as citizens,” he said.
He also alleged that the substance deployed was different from conventional tear gas.
“Don’t call it tear gas because this has never happened before that they unleash a gas from a container, a compressed container,” he said, claiming that “several people have collapsed.”
