The Senate will reconvene on Tuesday for an emergency plenary session following a wave of public anger over its handling of recent amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the decision to scrap the requirement for real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The hurried recall comes barely a week after the passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, a move that has ignited fierce opposition from civil society organisations, opposition parties, labour unions, professional bodies and regional interest groups. Youth-led movements have also amplified the backlash, with protests staged at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio is expected to preside over the session, which is slated to begin at noon and will be attended by 105 senators.
The Red Chamber has recently suffered a reduction in its ranks. Senators Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu State) and Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa State) passed away in the past months, while Jimoh Ibrahim vacated his seat after his appointment as an ambassador-designate by President Bola Tinubu. These developments have reduced the Senate’s membership from 109 to 106.
Confirmation of the emergency sitting was conveyed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo.
“The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has directed that plenary be reconvened for an emergency session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026,” the statement said.
According to the notice, proceedings will commence at 12 noon, as pressure continues to mount on lawmakers to revisit the controversial provisions of the amended electoral law.
