Electoral Act Crisis: Senate Reconvenes February 10 for Emergency Sitting

Electoral Act Crisis: Senate Reconvenes February 10 for Emergency Sitting

The Nigerian Senate has announced an emergency plenary sitting scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, despite earlier adjourning legislative activities until February 26.

The development was confirmed in an official notice dated February 8, 2026, signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, JP, PhD, acting on the directive of the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON.

According to the notice circulated to lawmakers, senators were informed that the emergency sitting would hold at 12:00 noon inside the Senate Chamber, with an apology issued for any inconvenience the sudden recall might cause.

The notice read in part:
“I am directed by His Excellency, the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, to inform all Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that an Emergency Sitting of the Senate has been scheduled to hold on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 12:00 noon.”

The emergency session comes barely days after the Senate adjourned plenary following the passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to allow lawmakers participate in ongoing budget defence sessions by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) ahead of the final consideration of the ₦58.47 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, slated for March 17.

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Although the notice did not explicitly state the agenda for the emergency sitting, the timing has fueled strong indications that it is linked to the growing national controversy over the Senate’s handling of key provisions in the Electoral Act amendment, particularly Section 60(3).

During clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, the Senate—presided over by Senate President Akpabio—adopted a motion moved by Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno and seconded by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin to reject the proposed Section 60(3).

The rejected provision sought to make real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal mandatory after results are signed and endorsed at polling units.

Instead, the Senate retained Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which leaves the mode of transmitting results to the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Other proposals reportedly rejected include provisions that would have allowed voters to download or reprint missing or unissued Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

At the end of deliberations, the Senate constituted a conference committee to reconcile differences between its version of the bill and that of the House of Representatives.

The Senate committee comprises Simon Lalong, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Tahir Monguno, Adamu Aliero, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpeyong, Aminu Abbas and Tokunbo Abiru, while the House committee is chaired by Hon. Bayo Balogun, alongside Fred Agbedi, Sada Soli, Ahmadu Jaha, Igariwey Iduma Enwo, Saidu Musa Abdullahi and Zainab Gimba.

The Senate’s action has triggered widespread criticism from civil society organisations, opposition parties, election observers and professional bodies, who argue that the decision weakens electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In response to the backlash, 13 senators, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, addressed journalists at the National Assembly, insisting that the Senate did not abolish electronic transmission of results.

“We came out to correct the wrong impression. The Senate did not, I repeat, did not reject electronic transmission of results,” Abaribe said.

Meanwhile, civil society groups are reportedly mobilising for protests at the National Assembly, demanding the restoration of Section 60(3) to make real-time electronic transmission compulsory.

With the official confirmation now issued, national attention is firmly fixed on Tuesday’s emergency sitting, which is widely expected to address and possibly resolve the mounting controversy surrounding the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Electoral Act Crisis: Senate Reconvenes February 10 for Emergency Sitting