The Senate on Tuesday convened an emergency plenary session to deliberate on the controversial amendments to the Electoral Act, amid rising public backlash over recent legislative decisions.
The extraordinary sitting, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, is taking place against the backdrop of protests within and around the National Assembly complex. The demonstrations were triggered by the Senate’s rejection of a clause that would mandate the real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The emergency session comes less than a week after the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, and follows intense pressure from civil society organisations, opposition parties, labour unions, professional bodies, regional leaders and youth groups.
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READ ALSO: Tight Security at NASS as Electoral Act Protest Enters Day Two
These groups have accused lawmakers of undermining the credibility of future elections by removing key transparency provisions from the bill.
On Monday, large numbers of Nigerian youths gathered in Abuja under the banner of the “Occupy National Assembly” protest to oppose the Senate’s decision on electronic transmission of results. The protest was led by the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The demonstrations continued on Tuesday, with former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, joining the protesters.
Participants carried placards and chanted slogans calling for the reinstatement of electronic transmission provisions and greater openness in the legislative process surrounding electoral reforms.
