The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday convened an emergency plenary session to deliberate on the controversial amendments to the Electoral Act following widespread protests over the removal of a clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The urgent sitting comes just days after the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, amid growing criticism from civil society organisations, labour unions, opposition parties, professional bodies and youth groups, who accused the National Assembly of weakening electoral transparency.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered early Tuesday at the entrance of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards calling for electoral accountability and digital transmission of results. Although the protest remained peaceful, heavy security presence was observed, with police officers and paramilitary operatives stationed at major entry points.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the emergency session, which recorded full attendance from members despite recent changes in the composition of the Upper Chamber. The sitting, which commenced at about 12 noon, was largely dominated by heated discussions on the Electoral Act amendment as public anger continued to intensify.
The Senate currently has 106 members, down from 109, following the deaths of Senator Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu) and Senator Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa), as well as the appointment of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as ambassador-designate by President Bola Tinubu.
The extraordinary plenary was formally announced on Sunday through a statement signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, who noted that the Senate President directed lawmakers to reconvene for an emergency sitting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The session followed mounting calls from stakeholders and the public urging lawmakers to reinstate the phrase “real-time” in the clause governing electronic transmission of election results.
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