The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, held an emergency plenary session during which it dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider rescission and re-committal of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026.
The unusual move, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was aimed at enabling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adjust its recently released 2027 general election timetable if necessary, following sustained public protests and legislative pressure over the bill’s provisions particularly the clause on electronic transmission of results.
The Senate had earlier passed the bill through third reading last week with a version that allows electronic transmission as primary but permits manual fallback in cases of technical failure a provision heavily criticised by protesters and opposition lawmakers as a potential loophole for result manipulation.
After hours of debate, the Senate resolved to rescind the third reading and recommit the bill to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration and possible amendment before harmonization with the House version.
The decision was taken to “address legitimate concerns raised by citizens and ensure the final law aligns with the yearnings of Nigerians for credible, transparent and technology-driven elections in 2027.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s Remarks Akpabio stated: “The Senate has listened to the voice of the people. The protests at our gates and the public discourse have shown that Nigerians want nothing short of full transparency in our electoral process. We are not in a hurry to pass a flawed law. We will revisit Clause 60(3) and any other contentious areas to produce a bill that strengthens democracy and public confidence.”
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The Committee of the Whole will now reconvene to propose amendments, particularly strengthening the mandatory nature of real-time electronic transmission with stricter conditions for any manual fallback. Once the Senate passes its revised version, it will return to the House of Representatives for concurrence or further negotiation in a joint conference committee. INEC Chairman Professor Joash Ojo Amupitanhas been invited to brief the committee on the implications of any changes on the already released 2027 timetable (Presidential & NASS: Feb 20; Governorship & State Assembly: March 6).
Protesters at the National Assembly gates (#MattressRevolution) have described the Senate’s move as “a partial victory” but vowed to remain until the bill is passed with a non-negotiable electronic transmission clause and sent to the President for assent.
The emergency session and rescission reflect the intense pressure from ongoing sit-in protests, civil society groups and opposition parties demanding a stronger, tamper-proof electoral framework ahead of 2027.
This is a developing story.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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