The Senate will on 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.

The extraordinary sitting comes barely a week after the passage of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, and follows sustained pressure from civil society groups, opposition figures, labour unions, professional bodies, regional leaders, and a growing youth movement protesting at the National Assembly.

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, is expected to preside over the session, which will be attended by 105 senators. The Senate currently has 106 members following the deaths of two senators in recent months and the exit of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim after his appointment as an ambassador-designate.

The emergency sitting was announced on Sunday in a statement signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, who said plenary would commence at noon.

The decision to reconvene follows intense public backlash since the Senate amended provisions on electronic transmission of election results by deleting the words “real-time.” While Senate leaders insist electronic transmission was not rejected outright, critics argue that the change creates loopholes for post-election manipulation.

The controversy has reportedly placed several senators under pressure, with some receiving hostile calls and threats after their contact details circulated online. Public distrust has continued to deepen despite official clarifications.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has warned of nationwide protests and possible election boycotts if lawmakers fail to clearly reinstate mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results, accusing the Senate of undermining confidence in the electoral process.

On Monday, protests escalated under the banner “Occupy NASS,” organised by the Movement for Credible Elections. The demonstration gained momentum when former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, joined protesters at the National Assembly complex.

Addressing journalists, Obi warned against what he described as the steady erosion of Nigeria’s democratic gains, while leaders of the Obidient Movement vowed to sustain protests until real-time electronic transmission is restored.

Civil society organisations, including Yiaga Africa and the Kukah Centre, have also issued a two-week ultimatum to the National Assembly to conclude the amendment process and retain mandatory real-time transmission of results. They further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to release the timetable for the 2027 general elections.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors, regional leaders from the South and Middle Belt, and human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa have all warned that weakening the provision threatens democratic credibility and voter confidence.

With the House of Representatives retaining mandatory real-time transmission and a joint conference committee expected to meet this week, today’s emergency plenary is widely viewed as a decisive moment in Nigeria’s electoral reform process ahead of the 2027 general elections.