By Ayo Kehinde
The Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, February 10, for an emergency plenary sitting as pressure continues to mount over its rejection of a proposed amendment mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act.
The announcement was made on Sunday, in a statement signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, who said the emergency session was directed by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and that all senators have been requested to attend.
Odo disclosed that the emergency plenary will commence at 12 noon on Tuesday, adding that the sitting was convened in response to pressing national issues arising from the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
The emergency session follows the Senate’s February 4 passage of the Electoral Bill 2026 after hours of robust debate, during which lawmakers rejected a recommendation for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results.
At the centre of the controversy was Section 60 of the bill, which governs the transmission of election results. The Senate voted down a proposal by its Committee on Electoral Matters that would have compelled presiding officers to upload results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real time.
Instead, lawmakers retained the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, which allow electronic transmission only after votes have been counted and publicly announced at the polling units, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and opposition parties.
Despite the controversy, the Senate approved several reforms in the Electoral Bill 2026, including changes to election timelines, tougher penalties for electoral offences and provisions aimed at improving the use of voting technology.
Under the retained framework, presiding officers are required to count votes at polling units, record results on prescribed forms, announce them publicly and transmit them electronically to the appropriate collation centres. Copies of the results must also be given to polling agents and security personnel where available. Any violation attracts penalties of up to N500,000 or a minimum of six months’ imprisonment.
The Senate’s decision has sparked widespread public backlash, with former Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, and socio-cultural group Afenifere accusing lawmakers of weakening electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) warned that delays in concluding amendments to the Electoral Act could expose political parties to legal and technical risks as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
It is widely believed that the purpose of the emergency session is to formally adopt the Votes and Proceedings of the February 4th sitting, during which the Electoral Bill was passed. Without the formal adoption of the Votes and Proceedings, the Conference Committee established to harmonize the Senate’s position with that of the House cannot commence its work. This action by the Senate aligns with calls from citizens that the Senate should recall members from the recess and conclude this important national duty.
Observers say Tuesday’s emergency plenary could lead to a reconsideration of the rejected amendment amid sustained public pressure and possible legal challenges from senior lawyers, including Femi Falana, SAN, with significant implications for the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
