The Senate has announced an emergency plenary sitting scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, amid mounting controversy over recent amendments to the Electoral Act.
The announcement was made on Sunday in a statement signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, who said all senators have been requested to attend the session.
According to the statement, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, directed the reconvening of plenary for the emergency sitting, which will commence at 12 noon on Tuesday.
The development comes days after the Senate, on February 4, rejected a proposed amendment seeking to make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory. The decision followed hours of debate during the passage of the Electoral Bill 2026.
While the Senate approved wide-ranging reforms covering election timelines, penalties for electoral offences and voting technology, it voted down a recommendation by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters to compel presiding officers to upload polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real time.
At the centre of the debate was Section 60 of the Electoral Act, which governs the transmission of election results. Lawmakers opted to retain provisions similar to the 2022 Electoral Act, allowing electronic transmission of results only after votes are counted and publicly announced at polling units.
Under the retained provisions, presiding officers are required to count votes at polling units, record results on prescribed forms, publicly announce them and transmit them electronically to the appropriate collation centres. Copies of results must also be issued to polling agents and security personnel where available, with violations attracting fines of up to N500,000 or a minimum of six months’ imprisonment.
The Senate’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and prominent activists, including former minister Oby Ezekwesili and the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, who described the move as a setback to electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also expressed concern over delays in concluding amendments to the Electoral Act, warning that prolonged uncertainty could expose political parties to technical and legal challenges as the next general elections approach.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that although it has concluded work on the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election, it is unable to release them due to the ongoing legislative amendments. The commission has also flagged issues surrounding the presence of deceased persons on the voters’ register, prompting plans for a nationwide verification exercise.
Tuesday’s emergency sitting is expected to address growing public pressure and legal threats from figures such as human rights lawyer Femi Falana, with observers watching closely to see whether the Senate will reconsider its position on real-time electronic transmission of election results—a decision that could significantly shape Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of 2027.