Protesters on Monday began converging on the entrance of the National Assembly in Abuja for the “Occupy National Assembly” protest.
Channels Television reports that there was a heavy security presence at the scene, with personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“The protest is against the backdrop of the Senate’s position on the electronic transmission of election results.
“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,” the report says.
Meanwhile, the Senate will reconvene for an emergency plenary sitting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 12:00 in spite of having earlier adjourned sittings until February 24.
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The development was formally conveyed in an official notice dated Feb. 8, 2026, signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, on the directive of the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
The notice cited by the News Agency of Nigeria reads in part:
“I am directed by His Excellency, the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio…
“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, Feb. 10 at noon.
“Venue: Senate Chamber. Distinguished Senators are kindly requested to note this Emergency Sitting date and attend. All inconveniences this will cause to Distinguished Senators are highly regretted.”
This confirmation cane days after the Senate last Thursday adjourned plenary, following the passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The adjournment was to allow lawmakers participate in the ongoing budget defence sessions by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) ahead of the final consideration of the ₦58.472 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, scheduled for passage on March 17.
The official notice did not state the reason for the emergency session.
The timing strongly suggests a connection to the intense national controversy trailing the senate’s handling of key provisions in the Electoral Act amendment, particularly Section 60(3) which has to do with electronic transmission of results.
