Senate calls for emergency session as CSOs, NLC vow action against rejection of e-transmission of results
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Starting Monday, February 9, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 civil society organisations, has vowed to occupy the National Assembly in protest until the Senate reverses its rejection of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026.
The CSOs’ planned action follows the Senate’s February 4 decision to reject mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results, retaining the existing discretionary provision in the Electoral Act.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also threatened mass action, including nationwide protests and potential election boycotts, if the Senate does not clarify and mandate real-time electronic transmission in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Meanwhile, the Senate has convened an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, February 10.
The Clerk to the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, disclosed the development in a statement on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio in Abuja.
Odo noted that all senators were invited to attend the emergency plenary.
“The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has directed the reconvening of plenary for an emergency sitting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026,” the statement reads in part.
Mr. Odo further stated that the emergency plenary would commence at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Senate has faced intense criticism over its handling of the Electoral Act 2022 (Amendment) Bill 2026, particularly for rejecting a clause that would have made real-time electronic transmission of election results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal mandatory.
However, it remains unclear whether the emergency session is directly tied to the ongoing Electoral Act amendments or addresses other emerging developments.
