The Senate on Tuesday began an emergency plenary session to review the recent amendments to the Electoral Act, following protests around the National Assembly over the removal of the clause that allows real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The sitting comes days after the National Assembly passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.
Since then, pressure has grown from civil society groups, opposition parties, labour unions, professional bodies, regional leaders and youth groups, who believe the changes could affect the fairness of future elections.
Early in the day, protesters gathered at the National Assembly complex, displaying placards and chanting messages calling for the return of electronic transmission of results and openness in the lawmaking process.
The protest remained ongoing as lawmakers met inside the chambers.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio is presiding over the session, which is being attended by the current members of the Upper Chamber.
The number of senators has dropped from 109 to 106 in recent months after the deaths of Senator Okechukwu Ezea of Enugu State and Senator Godiya Akwashiki of Nasarawa State.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim also left the Senate following his appointment as an ambassador-designate by President Bola Tinubu.
The emergency plenary was announced on Sunday through a statement issued by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, who said the Senate President directed senators to reconvene for the special sitting on February 10, 2026.
The session began around noon, with discussions expected to focus mainly on the Electoral Act amendments, while demonstrations by concerned citizens continued outside the National Assembly complex.
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