By Mary Onyia
Owing to public outrage, the Senate has called an emergency plenary to address the controversy surrounding the electronic transmission of election results. In a statement issued on Sunday by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, lawmakers were directed to reconvene on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 12 noon.
The session follows widespread criticism of the Senate’s decision on February 4 to reject Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which sought to make real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal mandatory. Instead, senators retained the existing provision that allows only the discretionary transfer of results after manual collation and announcement.
Civil society organisations and opposition figures have condemned the move, describing it as a setback to Nigeria’s electoral reforms and transparency. Many stakeholders argue that mandatory e-transmission is critical to curbing manipulation and restoring confidence in the voting process.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has, however, defended the chamber’s position, insisting that the legislature did not abolish electronic transmission and would not be intimidated by public pressure. He maintained that the Senate acted in the overall interest of the country.
Tuesday’s emergency sitting is expected to revisit the disputed amendment amid sustained public agitation and threats of legal action from stakeholders, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana.