BREAKING: Senate commences emergency sitting to debate electoral act amendments

The Senate on Tuesday reconvened for an emergency plenary session to deliberate on contentious amendments to the Electoral Act, as protests erupted around the National Assembly over the removal of the clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results.

The extraordinary sitting comes less than a week after the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, and follows growing pressure from civil society groups, opposition parties, labour unions, professional associations, regional leaders, and youth organisations, who have accused lawmakers of undermining the credibility of future elections.

Protesters gathered outside the National Assembly complex early in the day, carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding the reinstatement of electronic transmission provisions and greater transparency in the legislative process.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio presides over the session, attended by the remaining 106 senators following recent changes in the Upper Chamber’s composition. The number of senators dropped from 109 after the deaths of Senator Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu) and Senator Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa), and the exit of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, appointed ambassador-designate by President Bola Tinubu.

The emergency plenary, announced on Sunday by Senate Clerk Emmanuel Odo, commenced at noon, with the Electoral Act amendments expected to dominate discussions as demonstrators maintain pressure outside the complex.