BREAKING: Electoral Act: Senate Reconvenes Amid Online Leak of Lawmakers’ Phone Numbers

The Senate will today (Tuesday) hold an emergency plenary session amid mounting national outrage over its handling of amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the controversial removal of the clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results.

Naija News understands that the extraordinary sitting comes less than a week after the passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, and follows growing pressure from civil society groups, opposition leaders, labour unions, professional bodies, regional stakeholders and youth movements demanding clarity on the Senate’s position.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, is expected to preside over the plenary.

The emergency session was formally announced on Sunday in a statement signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo.

“The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has directed the reconvening of plenary for an emergency sitting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026,” the statement read.

Plenary is scheduled to commence at 12 noon.

The development comes at a time when the Upper Chamber is operating with a reduced number of members. In the past six months, the Senate has lost two lawmakers – Senator Okechukwu Ezea of Enugu State and Senator Godiya Akwashiki of Nasarawa State – to death. In addition, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim recently vacated his seat following his appointment as ambassador-designate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reducing the number of serving senators from 109 to 106.
Senators Under Pressure

The emergency sitting follows intense backlash after the Senate passed the amendment bill deleting the phrase “real-time” from provisions relating to electronic transmission of election results.

Although Senate leaders have maintained that electronic transmission was not entirely rejected, critics argue that removing “real-time” introduces ambiguity and could create room for post-election manipulation.

According to The PUNCH, some senators, particularly members of the Harmonisation Committee, have faced direct public pressure, including angry calls and online harassment after their personal phone numbers circulated on social media.

“The reactions were unpredictable. Many were laying curses and asking them, ‘How do you sleep at night after this action?’” a National Assembly source said.

Some lawmakers were said to have switched off their phones amid the backlash.
Labour Threatens Protest

As controversy intensified, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned of nationwide protests and possible election boycotts if the Senate failed to clearly entrench mandatory electronic transmission of results in the law.

The labour union accused the Senate of creating confusion and weakening public confidence in the electoral process through what it described as contradictory explanations.

At the same time, a coalition of political activists under the banner of the Movement for Credible Elections staged a protest in Abuja on Monday, tagged “Occupy NASS,” demanding that the Senate reverse its decision.

The emergency plenary is expected to determine whether the Senate will reconsider aspects of the amendment or maintain its earlier position. See more

BOTSHIELD-CONTENT-ID:GhXXaGunbdI3galq