The Senate will today hold an emergency plenary session amid escalating nationwide protests over its handling of amendments to the Electoral Act, especially the removal of the clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The emergency sitting comes barely a week after the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, and follows intense pressure from civil society organisations, labour unions, opposition figures, professional bodies, and youth groups who have taken their protests to the National Assembly.
The plenary was announced on Sunday in a statement signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, who said Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed senators to reconvene on Tuesday.
The session is scheduled to begin at noon and is expected to be attended by 105 senators.Public outrage erupted after the Senate deleted the words “real-time” from provisions on electronic transmission of election results.
While Senate leaders insist electronic transmission was not completely removed, critics argue that the change creates loopholes that could enable manipulation during result collation.
The anger spilled onto the streets on Monday as hundreds of protesters under the banner of the Movement for Credible Elections marched to the National Assembly in Abuja in a protest tagged “Occupy NASS.”
The demonstration gained national attention when former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, joined the protesters at the National Assembly complex.
Speaking to journalists outside the barricaded gates, Obi warned that Nigeria’s democratic gains were under threat and insisted that credible elections must be protected to ensure that votes truly count.
Popular activist Randy Peters also addressed the crowd, vowing that protests would continue until lawmakers reversed their decision.“Tomorrow, we will be back here until the Senate does the right thing.
The most important thing is that our votes must count,” Peters said, invoking the spirit of the June 12 struggle and questioning why elected leaders would resist reforms that guarantee credible elections.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress has threatened nationwide protests and possible election boycotts if the Senate fails to clearly restore mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results.
Civil society groups, including Yiaga Africa and the Kukah Centre, have issued a two-week ultimatum to the National Assembly to conclude the amendment process and retain real-time transmission.
They also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to release the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
With the House of Representatives retaining the real-time transmission clause and a joint conference committee expected to meet this week, today’s emergency plenary is widely seen as a critical test of the Senate’s commitment to electoral credibility ahead of the 2027 polls.
