Senate Reconvenes Today: Electoral Act Uproar Explodes Over Real-Time Transmission
By: Abudu Olalekan
Imagine this. Crowds chanting outside the National Assembly gates. Phones blowing up with angry calls. Senators ducking threats. All over one phrase: “real-time” electronic transmission of results. And today, Tuesday, February 10, 2026, the Senate dives back in. Emergency plenary at noon. Reportersroom’s got the full scoop.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio leads the charge. Only 105 senators left—down from 109 after deaths and that ambassador gig for Jim Oh Ibrahim. Clerk Emmanuel Odo announced it Sunday. Pressure’s insane. Civil society, unions, youth, even Peter Obi hit the streets. Monday’s “Occupy NASS” protest? Wild. Obidients, activists, waving signs: “Our votes must count!” “No electoral robbery!” Cops, soldiers, NSCDC blocked ’em hard.
Obi shows up. Crowd goes nuts. “Dismantle this criminality,” he tells reporters. “Show Africa we’re the light.” Dr. Yunusa Tanko from Obidient Movement: “No real-time upload? No election.” Randy Peters vows more marches today. Invokes June 12. “Democrats scared to lose? Our votes count in 2027!”
Why the firestorm? Senate passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, but axed “real-time” from upload rules. Keeps electronic transmission, they say. But critics scream loophole for rigging. Post-2023 Supreme Court ruling said it ain’t mandatory anyway. House kept it strong. Conference committee looms. Public trust? Shot.
Senators under siege, literally. Harmonisation Committee phones leaked online. Curses. Threats. “How you sleep at night?” one source spills. Some shut off phones. Nigeria Labour Congress threatens boycotts, protests. “Stop the confusion!”
Civil society piles on. Kukah Centre, Yiaga Africa, others give two-week ultimatum: Fix it. Transmit to prez quick. TAF Africa’s Jake Epelle: “National interest over partisanship.” Yiaga’s Cynthia Mbamalu: “Don’t drag us back. INEC’s ready!” Nigerian Guild of Editors warns: Mistrust kills voter turnout.
Regional bigwigs from Southern and Middle Belt Forum blast it. “Unacceptable tampering!” quotes Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. Human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa: “Non-negotiable in 21st-century Nigeria.” No debate.
Lagos adds fuel. Movement for Credible Elections—Dr. Usman Bugaje, Prof. Pat Utomi, Ayuba Wabba, Adewole Adebayo—rails against “weakening reforms.” Utomi’s dire: “Nation on the brink. Choose life over collapse.”
Story starts simple. Routine bill tweaks. Boom—national crisis. Section 60 key: No forcing presiding officers to upload to IReV instantly. Discretionary, like 2022 Act. But with 2027 elections looming, feels like sabotage.
Today’s plenary? Make-or-break. Clear stance or more chaos? Protesters promise return. Placards scream: “Democracy dies when votes stolen.” Reportersroom watches close. Will Akpabio thread the needle? Or ignite bigger fire? Nigeria holds breath.
