Senate Calls Emergency Session as NLC Threatens Action Over E-Transmission

The Senate has summoned its members from recess for an emergency sitting scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, as controversy deepens over amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly provisions on electronic transmission of election results. The extraordinary session, convened by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, comes amid mounting political tension and public scrutiny surrounding the bill ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Lawmakers were formally notified through a circular issued by the Clerk of the Senate, directing them to reconvene to approve the Votes and Proceedings of the last sitting. The approval is required to enable the conference committee of the Senate and House of Representatives to commence work on harmonising their differing versions of the Electoral Act Amendments Bill. A ranking senator confirmed that the sitting may begin with an executive session due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The recall followed escalating pressure from organised labour and civil society groups. The Nigeria Labour Congress warned of mass action, including possible election boycotts, if the amended law fails to grant the Independent National Electoral Commission a clear mandate to transmit and collate election results electronically in real time. Civil society coalitions and youth groups also intensified calls for transparency, arguing that ambiguity in the law would weaken public trust.

Earlier, protests erupted at the National Assembly complex, while prominent Nigerians, opposition figures, and diaspora groups criticised the Senate’s decision to retain a conditional approach to electronic transmission, contrary to the House of Representatives’ mandatory provision. Experts remain divided on the feasibility of real-time transmission, setting the stage for a decisive harmonisation process that will determine the final shape of Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of 2027.