By Peter Omopo
The Senate has fixed Tuesday, February 10, for an emergency plenary session, barely a week after concluding deliberations on the Electoral Bill 2026.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, who said the directive was given by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. According to the statement, all senators have been summoned to attend the special sitting, scheduled to commence at 12 noon.
Although the agenda for the emergency session was not disclosed, the move comes amid heightened public and political reactions to the Senate’s recent legislative actions on electoral reforms.
Last week, the Senate passed the Electoral Bill 2026 following extensive debates but rejected a controversial proposal seeking to make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory. The amendment, which centred on Section 60 of the Electoral Act, would have required presiding officers to upload polling unit results immediately to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
Lawmakers voted against the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, opting instead to retain provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, which allow electronic transmission of results only after votes have been counted and results publicly announced at polling units.
Despite introducing changes to election timelines, penalties for electoral offences, and aspects of voting technology, the rejection of real-time result transmission has continued to attract criticism from stakeholders.
The ongoing amendments have also affected the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is yet to release the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections. The commission has cited the legislative process, alongside concerns over the presence of deceased persons on the voters’ register, prompting plans for a nationwide verification exercise.
Several civil society organisations and political figures have criticised the Senate’s decision. Former minister Oby Ezekwesili, as well as groups such as Afenifere, described the move as a setback to electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 polls. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also warned that delays in finalising amendments to the Electoral Act could expose political parties to legal and technical challenges as preparations for the elections intensify.
Under the retained provisions of the law, presiding officers are required to count votes at polling units, record results on official forms, announce them publicly, and transmit the results electronically to the appropriate collation centres. Copies of the results must also be issued to polling agents and security personnel where available, with violations attracting a fine of up to N500,000 or a minimum prison term of six months.
