The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday convened an emergency plenary session to address contentious amendments to the Electoral Act, as protests erupted around the National Assembly over the removal of the clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The extraordinary sitting comes less than a week after the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, amid pressure from civil society groups, opposition parties, labour unions, professional bodies, regional leaders, and youth organizations, who argue that the changes undermine the credibility of future elections.
Protesters, many gathering early at the National Assembly complex, carried placards and chanted for the reinstatement of electronic transmission provisions and greater transparency in the legislative process.
The session is presided over by Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, and attended by the remaining senators after recent changes in chamber composition. In the past six months, the Senate lost Senators Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu State) and Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa State) to death, while Senator Jimoh Ibrahim left following his appointment as ambassador-designate, reducing membership from 109 to 106.
The emergency sitting was announced Sunday by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, stating:
“The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has directed the reconvening of plenary for an emergency sitting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.”
The plenary commenced at noon, with the Electoral Act amendments expected to dominate deliberations, even as protests continue outside the National Assembly.
