2022 Electoral Act Amendment: Senate Bows To Pressure, Holds Emergency Sitting Tomorrow

Following massive negative criticisms over the rejection of a proposed amendment to Clause 60 (3), of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, making real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory, the Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary sitting for tomorrow, Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 12:00 noon.

The Senate had earlier on Wednesday, adjourned plenary until February 24, 2026 but following widespread criticisms and calls for the removal of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the upper Chamber made a U- turn and 

announced the decision to reconvene on Tuesday. 

Although reasons for the emergency session, was not stated, the timing could be linked to the intense national controversy surrounding the Senate’s handling of key provisions in the Electoral Act amendment, particularly Section 60 (3).

The notice for emergency, dated February 8, 2026 and signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, on the directive of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was circulated on Sunday, February 8.

It read in part, “I am directed by His Excellency, the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, to inform all Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that an Emergency Sitting of the Senate has been scheduled as follows: Date: Tuesday, 10 February, 2026; Time: 12:00 noon; Venue: Senate Chamber.

“Distinguished Senators are kindly requested to attend. Any inconvenience this may cause is highly regretted.”

The Senate had earlier adjourned plenary last week after passing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to allow lawmakers participate in budget defence sessions by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) ahead of the final consideration of the ₦58.47 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, scheduled for March 17.

However, during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North, moved a motion for the rejection of the proposed Section 60(3).

and was seconded by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, APC, Kano North, which was adopted.  

The rejected amendment sought to make real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Result Viewing Portal, IReV, mandatory. According to the proposal, “The presiding officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IReV portal in real time, after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and/or countersigned by candidates or polling unit agents, where available.”