Photo: Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
By Deborah Nnamdi
The Nigerian Senate has recalled its members from recess for an emergency plenary session to address pressing legislative matters, including issues arising from the recently passed Electoral Bill.
The emergency sitting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 12:00 noon in the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly, Abuja.
The recall was communicated through an official notice issued by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate and signed by Emmanuel Odo, JP, PhD.
According to the notice, the directive for the emergency session was given by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, with all senators requested to attend. The notice urged all Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take note of the date and ensure their presence, while expressing apologies for any inconvenience caused by the recall.
Although the notice did not explicitly state the agenda for the sitting, it was gathered that the emergency plenary will focus primarily on the formal adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of the Senate sitting held on February 4, 2026, when the Electoral Bill was passed.
The adoption of the Votes and Proceedings is a critical procedural requirement before the Conference Committee can commence work. The committee is expected to harmonise the Senate’s version of the bill with that passed by the House of Representatives.
The recall comes amid sustained public pressure on the National Assembly to conclude legislative processes on electoral reforms without further delay.
There is also heightened public interest in whether the adopted proceedings will reaffirm the Senate’s position on the electronic transmission of election results, a key reform being advocated by several stakeholders nationwide.
Observers say the outcome of the emergency sitting will determine the next phase of legislative action on the Electoral Bill and could have significant implications for the legal framework governing future elections in Nigeria.
