The Nigerian Senate will convene an emergency plenary sitting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 12:00 noon, following intense public criticism of its recent decision on electoral amendments.

In a statement issued on Sunday, February 8, 2026, Clerk of the Senate Emmanuel Odo announced that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had directed the immediate reconvening of the chamber. The notice called on all senators to attend the special session in the Senate Chamber.

The emergency meeting follows widespread outrage over the Senate’s February 4 passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026.

During the third reading, lawmakers rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) that would have required presiding officers to transmit polling unit results electronically in real time directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision from the 2022 Electoral Act, which gives INEC discretionary power to electronically transfer results only after votes are counted and publicly announced at polling units.

The decision has drawn strong condemnation from civil society organizations, opposition leaders including Peter Obi, election monitoring groups, and bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association.

Critics argue the move weakens electoral transparency, increases the risk of manipulation, and sets back progress ahead of the 2027 general elections. Protests have been announced outside the National Assembly starting Monday to pressure the Senate to reconsider, with some stakeholders indicating possible legal action.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the chamber’s position, stating over the weekend that the Senate did not reject electronic transmission of results.

He explained that lawmakers only removed the mandatory real-time requirement due to practical challenges, including network issues in insecure areas affecting several states, while preserving the overall electronic transmission framework used in past elections.

Akpabio added that the Senate would not be swayed by intimidation and emphasized that the legislative process on the bill remains active.

The official agenda for Tuesday’s session has not been made public, but it is widely expected to address the controversy, respond to public pressure, and possibly revisit elements of the disputed clause in light of calls for stronger electoral safeguards.

Quick action by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) prevented a major fire disaster early Sunday morning after a fully loaded petrol (PMS) tanker overturned at Awoyaya on the Lekki–Epe Expressway.

The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. when the articulated tanker lost control and flipped on the inward carriageway, spilling its highly flammable cargo and creating an immediate risk of explosion and widespread fire along the busy corridor.

LASTMA’s Rescue and Recovery Unit responded swiftly upon receiving the alert, securing the scene with a safety perimeter, diverting traffic, and preventing fuel scoopers and secondary crashes. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service was also mobilised without delay, enforcing strict fire prevention measures and continuous monitoring to eliminate ignition risks.

With no injuries or casualties reported, responders halted traffic in the affected area before safely resuming flow once the threat was neutralised. The petrol was carefully trans-loaded into a replacement 33,000-litre tanker under close supervision by emergency teams.

LASTMA urged tanker drivers to maintain vehicles rigorously, exercise extreme caution—especially at night—and strictly follow safety rules to protect lives and infrastructure.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, commended the seamless collaboration between LASTMA and the Fire Service, praising their professionalism and speed in averting what could have been a catastrophic blaze.

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has recalled the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed (commonly known as Baba Jamal or Baba Ahmed), amid allegations of involvement in electoral malpractice during recent parliamentary primaries.

The recall, which takes immediate effect, stems from claims of voter inducement and other irregularities in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries for the Ayawaso East Constituency. According to a statement from the Ghanaian Presidency issued on Saturday, Ahmed — who was an aspirant in the primaries — was singled out because he is a serving public officer, unlike other candidates accused of similar conduct.

The presidency emphasized that the decision upholds standards of conduct for political appointees and is without prejudice to the NDC’s ongoing internal investigations into the primaries. Allegations reportedly include vote-buying and other forms of inducement during the contest.

The move highlights Ghana’s commitment to addressing electoral integrity concerns, even at the diplomatic level. No immediate response has been reported from the Nigerian government or the recalled envoy.

The High Commissioner’s post in Abuja will now require a replacement, potentially affecting bilateral diplomatic engagements between the two West African neighbors.

Further details on any ongoing probes, including by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into related primary election issues, are expected in the coming days.