The Senate will hold an emergency plenary session today amid rising national outrage regarding amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the controversial decision to drop the clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results.
This extraordinary meeting comes less than a week after the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, and faces pressure from civil society organizations, opposition figures, labor unions, regional leaders, and an energized youth movement protesting outside the National Assembly.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio will preside over the session, which is expected to be attended by all remaining 105 senators. The Senate has experienced losses in recent months, reducing its membership from 109 to 106.
The decision to convene follows intense public backlash after the Senate’s action to remove “real-time” from provisions for electronic results transmission, leading to angry reactions from the public. Many senators have reportedly received threats, with some switching off their phones to avoid harassment.
Despite Senate leaders’ assurances that electronic transmission was not completely rejected, public distrust has grown, as critics argue that the amendment creates loopholes for potential manipulation.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has warned of nationwide protests and possible election boycotts if the Senate fails to clarify its position on mandatory electronic results transmission. Similar fears have been echoed by a coalition of pro-democracy groups, leading to protests in Abuja.
The protest gained momentum with the participation of former presidential candidate Peter Obi, who joined demonstrators at the National Assembly, condemning what he termed a deterioration of Nigeria’s democratic gains. Protesters have called for the immediate restoration of real-time electronic transmission to ensure credible elections.
In addition to protests, leading civil society organizations have given the National Assembly two weeks to finalize amendments that retain mandatory real-time electronic results transmission. They claim that the provision is essential for restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
The situation remains dynamic, with increasing calls for accountability from lawmakers and a clear commitment to maintaining electoral integrity as the 2027 general elections approach.
