KEY POINTS

• The Senate will hold an emergency plenary on Tuesday, February 10, following directives from Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

• The sitting comes amid intense debate over electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Amendment Bill.

• Lawmakers retained provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, rejecting real-time transmission and stricter penalties for vote buying.

The Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, amid mounting pressure over provisions on the electronic transmission of election results.

In a notice issued on Sunday, the Clerk, Emmanuel Odo, said the sitting was convened on the directive of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. According to the notice, the emergency session will hold at 12 noon in the Senate Chamber.

“All distinguished senators are kindly requested to note this emergency sitting date and attend,” the notice stated.

The emergency plenary comes as public debate continues over Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which addresses the electronic transmission of election results.

Last Wednesday, the Senate retained provisions allowing electronic transfer of results, as contained in the Electoral Act 2022, despite calls for stronger reforms.

Senate Rejects Real-Time Transmission Proposals

During deliberations, the upper chamber rejected proposals for real-time transmission of election results and a 10-year ban on vote buying. Instead, lawmakers opted to maintain existing penalties, including fines or jail terms, for electoral offences.

Some senators have since clarified that the bill received the backing of the majority of lawmakers.

Despite advocacy for real-time electronic transmission, the Senate retained the existing wording of the 2022 Electoral Act, which allows results to be transmitted “in a manner as prescribed by the commission,” leaving implementation at the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.