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Senate to Hold Emergency Plenary Sitting on Tuesday Amid Electoral Reform Backlash
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.
News
Commotion In National Assembly Over Fire Outbreak
It took the swift intervention of senator Asuquo Ekpenyong from Cross River South and Senator Salihu Mustapha to quench the fire building up in the kitchen compartment of the Senate hearing room 107.
Image: National Assembly, Abuja
A fire outbreak in the Senate wing of the National Assembly was quickly put out on Wednesday; stopping it from spreading any further.
It took the swift intervention of senator Asuquo Ekpenyong from Cross River South and Senator Salihu Mustapha to quench the fire building up in the kitchen compartment of the Senate hearing room 107.
The Senate Committee on Niger -Delta Development Commission, NDCC chaired by Senator Ekpenyong had just concluded the screening exercise of Dr. Zainab Marwa as the member representing, Northeast on the board of the commission when smoke from the fire rapidly covered the scene of incident.
It was subsequently gathered that the fire emanated from a micro-wave left on in the kitchen.
In the brief commotion; Senator Ekpenyong’s swift intervention ensured that the fire was quickly put out.SOT
News
President Tinubu Commissions new EFCC office in Ekiti
Earlier, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the commissioning of the Ekiti Zonal Directorate as a landmark development that would enhance the Commission’s presence and effectiveness in the region.
• EFCC Ekiti Office commission by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the new Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Zonal Directorate office in Ado-Ekiti.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, President Tinubu said that the state-of-the-art facility reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening institutions responsible for fighting corruption and economic crimes.
The President commended EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, as well as the management and staff of the Commission for their efforts in enhancing the agency’s operational capacity and expanding its reach across the country.
According to him, the new office will improve the Commission’s effectiveness in tackling corruption, financial crimes and related offences, while bringing anti-graft operations closer to the people of Ekiti and Ondo States.
Earlier, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the commissioning of the Ekiti Zonal Directorate as a landmark development that would enhance the Commission’s presence and effectiveness in the region.
He noted that the facility would help close operational gaps in the Commission’s coverage of Ekiti and Ondo States while improving engagement with local communities in the fight against corruption.
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded on the Anka-Bagega road on Tuesday, killing one person and injuring seven others.
The blast struck a commercial Volkswagen Golf 3 Wagon carrying passengers travelling from Bagega village to Anka town. One passenger died on the spot, while the seven injured victims are receiving treatment at a primary healthcare facility in Bagega.
The explosion also caused significant damage to the vehicle, sparking fresh security concerns among commuters using the route.
This incident comes barely a month after a similar IED explosion occurred along the same road.
Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Bello, confirmed the attack. He said joint security forces have been deployed to assess the situation, clear the affected area, and restore normalcy on the route.
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