Senate Holds Emergency Sitting Over Electoral Act Changes

The Senate on Tuesday reconvened in an emergency plenary session to deliberate on the controversial amendments to the Electoral Act, amid protests at the National Assembly triggered by the removal of provisions requiring real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The extraordinary sitting comes barely days after the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, and follows growing opposition from civil society groups, labour unions, opposition parties, professional associations, regional stakeholders and youth organisations. Critics argue that the amendments could undermine the integrity and transparency of future elections.
Early on Tuesday, demonstrators gathered around the National Assembly complex, brandishing placards and chanting slogans calling for the restoration of electronic result transmission and greater openness in the legislative process.
The session is being presided over by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, with attendance by the remaining members of the Upper Chamber following recent changes in its composition.
Over the past six months, the Senate has lost two members—Senator Okechukwu Ezea of Enugu State and Senator Godiya Akwashiki of Nasarawa State—who passed away, while Senator Jimoh Ibrahim vacated his seat after being appointed an ambassador-designate by President Bola Tinubu. These developments have reduced the Senate’s membership from 109 to 106.
The emergency plenary was announced on Sunday in a statement issued by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, who said the Senate President had directed lawmakers to reconvene on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
Plenary proceedings began at noon, with debates on the Electoral Act amendments expected to take centre stage as protests persist outside the National Assembly complex.