National News
Real-Time Result Transmission: Senate bows to pressure, to hold emergency plenary Tuesday
The emergency session was convened on the directive of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, according to a notice issued by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo.
The Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary sitting for Tuesday, February 10, amid mounting pressure on the National Assembly to revisit contentious provisions in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
In a notice issued on Sunday, Emmanuel Odo, Clerk of the Senate, said the emergency session was convened on the directive of the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
According to the notice, the sitting will hold at 12 noon in the Senate Chamber.
“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,” the notice read.
“All Distinguished Senators are kindly requested to note this emergency sitting date and attend.”
The development comes against the backdrop of intense public and stakeholder pressure on the Senate to reconsider Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act amendment bill, which deals with the electronic transmission of election results.
On Wednesday, the Senate retained the existing provision in the Electoral Act, 2022, which allows electronic transmission of results at the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
During the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, the upper chamber rejected proposals seeking to mandate real-time transmission of election results as well as a proposed 10-year ban on vote buying, opting instead to maintain the current sanctions of fines or jail terms.
Despite the controversy, some senators have clarified that the bill, as passed, enjoyed the support of a majority of lawmakers.
However, the Senate declined to adopt the real-time transmission provision demanded by electoral reform advocates, retaining the existing wording that results should be transmitted “in a manner as prescribed by the commission.”

Follow Us on Google Discover