Chaos Erupts at Nigerian Senate Over Election Results Transmission Controversy

Chaos unfolded at the Nigerian Senate during a session on February 10, 2026, as lawmakers clashed over the transmission of election results. The Senate had previously adopted a vote to proceed with the Electoral Bill on February 4, which led to disruptions due to the controversial removal of provisions mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units.

The tension escalated as Senator Tahir Monguno of the APC from Borno moved a motion urging the Senate to rescind its earlier decision. Lawmakers expressed discomfort with certain words in the new proposals, leading to a heated exchange on the floor.

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe raised a point of order, calling for individual votes, citing division under Order 70. Amid concerns of stalling the amendment process, Abaribe later withdrew the point of order.

Additionally, the Senate appointed a 12-member committee to work on amending the Electoral Act, including Senators Orji Uzor Kalu and Tahir Monguno. The move to revisit the controversial amendments comes amidst growing dissent over the removal of real-time provisions related to electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).