Senate holds emergency plenary on Electoral Act Amendments amid protests
The Senate on Tuesday convened an emergency plenary session to discuss amendments to the Electoral Act, as protesters gathered around the National Assembly over the removal of the clause mandating
The Senate on Tuesday convened an emergency plenary session to discuss amendments to the Electoral Act, as protesters gathered around the National Assembly over the removal of the clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The extraordinary sitting comes days after the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, amid growing pressure from civil society organisations, opposition parties, labour unions, professional bodies, regional leaders, and youth groups. Critics argue that the changes could undermine the credibility of future elections.
Protesters, many of whom arrived at the National Assembly early in the day, carried placards and chanted slogans calling for the reinstatement of electronic transmission provisions and greater transparency in the legislative process.
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Senate President Godswill Akpabio is presiding over the session, attended by the remaining senators following recent changes in the Upper Chamber. In the last six months, the Senate lost Senators Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu) and Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa) to death, while Senator Jimoh Ibrahim left the chamber after he was appointed ambassador-designate by President Bola Tinubu, reducing the number of senators from 109 to 106.
The emergency sitting was announced on Sunday by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo.
“The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has directed the reconvening of plenary for an emergency sitting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026,” the statement read.
The plenary, which began at noon, is expected to focus on the Electoral Act amendments while protests continue outside the National Assembly complex.
