Abuja — Senate President Godswill Akpabio has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu is expected to sign the amended Electoral Act into law by the end of February 2026, even as nationwide protests intensify over the controversial removal of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Akpabio made the revelation during Tuesday’s Senate plenary session on February 10, 2026, while addressing the ongoing controversy surrounding the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026.
The Senate President also announced an expansion of the joint conference committee tasked with reconciling differences between the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the bill. He stated that the Senate’s delegation has been increased from nine to twelve members to match the House’s composition.
“We have raised our numbers from nine to twelve to match the figures from our colleagues in the House of Reps. We expect everything to be done in the next few days or in a week. The President is expected to sign this into law in February,” Akpabio declared.
The disclosure comes amid growing public backlash following the National Assembly’s decision to reject a proposed amendment that would have explicitly mandated real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
During clause-by-clause consideration last week, the Senate retained the existing language from the 2022 Electoral Act, which states that presiding officers shall transmit results “in the manner prescribed by the Commission.” Critics argue that the omission of “real-time” removes a critical legal safeguard against result manipulation, delays, or alterations during collation, thereby undermining transparency and public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Senate’s position has sparked widespread demonstrations under the banner #OccupyNASS, with protesters gathering at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja since Monday, February 9, 2026. Civil society organizations, youth groups, labour unions, professional associations, opposition politicians, and human rights activists have joined the protest, carrying placards and chanting slogans such as “Electoral Reform Now,” “Restore Real-Time Transmission,” “Our Votes Must Count,” and “No Transparency, No 2027.”
Security has been significantly reinforced around the Three Arms Zone, with personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services (DSS), and other agencies deployed to maintain order. Major access roads remain cordoned off, though the demonstrations have remained largely peaceful.
Prominent figures including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, human rights activist Aisha Yesufu, and various civil society leaders have participated, describing the demand as a non-partisan call to protect democratic integrity.
The Senate convened an emergency plenary on Tuesday specifically to address the public outcry, but Akpabio’s announcement that the bill is on track for presidential assent in February has further fueled anger among protesters, who view the move as dismissive of widespread concerns.
Senate leadership has maintained that electronic transmission of results was not rejected outright; rather, the decision to avoid mandating “real-time” specifics was intended to prevent potential technical or legal complications. However, this explanation has failed to quell public frustration, with many insisting that only explicit statutory backing for real-time transmission can restore faith in the electoral process.
As the conference committee prepares to harmonize the two chambers’ versions, the coming days will be critical in determining whether lawmakers respond to the protests by reconsidering the contentious clause.
The ongoing #OccupyNASS demonstrations and the Senate President’s remarks highlight the high stakes surrounding electoral reform in Nigeria, with both the government and citizens keenly aware of the implications for the credibility of future elections.
