ABUJA — The Nigerian Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, following a surge of public criticism over its recent handling of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026.
The directive for the sudden reconvening was contained in a memo issued on Sunday by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, acting on the instructions of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The session is set to commence at 12:00 PM at the National Assembly complex.
Controversy over electronic results
The emergency recall follows the Senate’s passage of the bill last Wednesday, during which lawmakers voted down Clause 60(3). The rejected provision would have mandated the real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
By retaining the discretionary language of the Electoral Act 2022, the Senate has faced intense backlash from civil society organizations and opposition figures. Critics argue that making electronic transmission optional undermines transparency and voter confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Key legislative changes
While the transmission clause remains the focal point of the dispute, the 2026 bill includes several other significant reforms:
- Technological Shift: The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has officially replaced manual card readers.
- Revised Timelines: The window for INEC to publish a Notice of Election was reduced from 360 days to 180 days.
- Stiffer Penalties: Fines for the illegal trade of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were increased to ₦5 million.
- Candidate Submissions: Political parties now have a shortened window of 90 days before an election to submit final candidate lists.
The Senate had originally adjourned until February 24 for budget defense sessions. This unexpected return suggests a potential move to harmonize the bill with the House of Representatives or address the mounting public pressure.
