The Senate has announced plans to reconvene for an emergency plenary sitting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, amid mounting controversy surrounding recent amendments to Nigeria’s Electoral Act.
The announcement was made on Sunday in a statement signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, who said the directive came from the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
According to the statement, all senators have been formally requested to attend the emergency session, which is scheduled to commence at noon.
“The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has directed the reconvening of plenary for an emergency sitting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026,” the statement read.
The decision to hold the emergency sitting follows the Senate’s rejection on February 4 of a proposed amendment seeking to mandate real-time electronic transmission of election results. While the Senate passed the Electoral Bill 2026 after hours of debate, it voted against making real-time upload of results compulsory.
At the heart of the controversy is Section 60 of the Electoral Act, which governs the transmission of polling unit results. Lawmakers rejected a recommendation by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters that would have required presiding officers to upload results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV) immediately after votes are counted.
Instead, the Senate retained provisions from the 2022 Electoral Act, which allow electronic transmission of results after votes are counted and publicly announced at polling units, without explicitly mandating real-time upload.
The rejection has sparked widespread criticism from civil society groups, opposition parties, and public figures. Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, and pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere have both criticised the decision, arguing that it undermines transparency and public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also expressed concern over delays in finalising amendments to the Electoral Act, warning that prolonged uncertainty could expose political parties to legal and technical challenges ahead of the next general elections.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has indicated that it is unable to release the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 polls due to the ongoing legislative process.
INEC has also raised concerns over the inclusion of deceased persons on the voters’ register, prompting plans for a nationwide verification exercise.
Under the retained provisions of the Electoral Act, presiding officers are required to count votes at polling units, record results on official forms, announce them publicly, and transmit them electronically to the appropriate collation centres.
Copies of the results must also be provided to polling agents and security personnel where available.
Violations attract penalties of up to ₦500,000 or a minimum of six months’ imprisonment.
Observers say Tuesday’s emergency plenary could provide lawmakers an opportunity to revisit the contentious amendment in response to public pressure and possible legal challenges from figures such as human rights lawyer Femi Falana.
The outcome of the session is expected to play a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s electoral framework and determining how technology is deployed to enhance transparency and credibility in future elections
