Protest in Abuja Over Senate’s Decision on e-Transmission of Election Results

By Adedapo Adesanya

Some protesters on Monday took over the streets of Abuja to register their displeasure over the Senate’s decision to reject the real-time transmission of election results.

The demonstrators have promised to Occupy National Assembly despite a heavy security presence at the parliament, with personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Although the Senate has issued several clarifications over reports that it rejected electronic transmission of results, the protesters insist that lawmakers must be explicit by including the phrase “real-time electronic transmission” in the proposed legislation.

Members of civil society organisations, a handful of opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) members, and some women’s groups are gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly for the protest.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday joined the call on the Senate to legalise the real-time transmission of election results, warning that the National Assembly’s refusal to make the provision law would lead to workers’ mass action.

Amid these threats, the Senate will hold an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

In a notice sent by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Emmanuel Odo, the lawmakers were directed to convene at the National Assembly complex on the instruction of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

“I am directed by His Excellency, the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, to inform all Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that an Emergency Sitting of the Senate has been scheduled to hold as follows: Date: Tuesday, 10th February, 2026. Time:12:00 Noon. Venue: Senate Chamber,” the notice read.

Mr Odo urged all senators to attend the emergency sitting.

“All inconveniences this will cause to Distinguished Senators are highly regretted, please,” the memo read.

No reason was stated for the meeting, but the development comes amid debates about the e-transmission of election results after the Electoral Act amendment bill passed the third reading at the Senate. The lawmakers had adjourned plenary after that.

Clause 60 (30) of the Electoral Amendment Bill is connected with the electronic transmission of results. On Wednesday, the Senate retained the provision for the electronic transfer of results as contained in the 2022 Electoral Act.

The Upper Chamber rejected moves for the real-time transmission of results and a 10-year ban on vote-buyers and instead retained the sanctions of jail terms and fines.

Since the development, the Senate has come under fire. However, some of its members have clarified that the bill enjoyed the support of a majority of the senators.

Besides the e-transmission issue, the Senate also blocked the download of electronic voters’ cards from the INEC website, reduced the notice period for elections from 360 to 180 days, and cut the timeline for publishing the list of candidates from 150 to 90 days.

The Senate’s position on the transmission of election results contrasts with that of the House of Representatives. However, both chambers have set up conference committees to harmonise their differences, after which a clean copy will be transmitted to the President for assent.