The Senate has fixed an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, amid growing controversy surrounding recent amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the provisions on electronic transmission of election results.
In a notice issued by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, lawmakers were directed to reconvene at the National Assembly Complex at noon on the instruction of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“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… Date: Tuesday, 10th February, 2026. Time: 12:00 Noon. Venue: Senate Chamber.”
The memo also appealed for the attendance of all senators and expressed regret over any inconvenience the sudden meeting might cause.
“All inconveniences this will cause to Distinguished Senators are highly regretted, please.”
Although no official reason was provided for the emergency sitting, the development comes shortly after the Senate passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill at third reading, a move that has sparked nationwide debate over the handling of electronic transmission of election results.
The upper chamber retained the provision for electronic transmission as contained in the 2022 Electoral Act but rejected proposals to make the process mandatory in real time. The decision has drawn criticism from various stakeholders, even as some lawmakers insist that electronic transmission itself was never removed.
Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central said the majority of senators supported electronic transmission.
“Over 85 per cent of senators agreed to electronic transmission. It was common ground… It was only ‘real time’ that was expunged because of network issues. Transmission itself was never in dispute.”
He added that confusion arose during plenary after a motion was introduced to replace the word “transmission” with “transfer” without debate.
The emergency session is expected to address the controversy and provide clarity as public scrutiny over the amendment intensifies.
