Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Amid mounting public outrage and sustained pressure over its controversial rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, the Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary sitting for Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The emergency session, slated for 12:00 noon at the Senate Chamber, comes barely days after lawmakers adjourned plenary until February 24—fueling strong indications of a legislative rethink prompted by nationwide criticism.
An official notice dated February 8, 2026, and circulated to senators on Sunday, confirmed the development.
The notice, signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Emmanuel Odo, on the directive of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, formally invited senators to reconvene.
“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 as follows: Date: Tuesday, 10 February, 2026; Time: 12:00 noon; Venue: Senate Chamber,” the notice stated.
It added: “Distinguished Senators are kindly requested to attend. Any inconvenience this may cause is highly regretted.”
Although the notice did not disclose the agenda for the emergency sitting, the timing has been widely linked to the intensifying national controversy surrounding the Senate’s handling of key provisions in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026—particularly Clause 60, Subsection (3).
During clause-by-clause consideration of the bill last week, the Senate rejected a proposal seeking to make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion moved by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), and seconded by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), under the chairmanship of Senate President Akpabio.
The rejected amendment sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit results from polling units to its Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real time after voting.
Specifically, the proposed Section 60(3) provided that: “The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IReV portal in real time, after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or countersigned by candidates or polling unit agents, where available.”
Instead, the Senate retained Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which grants INEC discretionary powers over the mode of result transmission—a move that has attracted fierce backlash from civil society organisations, opposition parties, labour unions, and election observers.
The Senate had earlier adjourned plenary on Wednesday to enable lawmakers participate in budget defence sessions by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), ahead of the final consideration of the ₦58.47 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill scheduled for March 17.
However, the sudden decision to reconvene has heightened speculation that the Senate may revisit the contentious clause in response to escalating public pressure and growing concerns over the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
