Fatimah Otunsanya
The Senate has announced that it will reconvene plenary on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, cutting short its earlier adjournment until February 24.
The notice, issued by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, was circulated to all senators and sighted by journalists. While the internal memo did not state a reason, sources suggest the emergency session is linked to the ongoing Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recently released timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The reconvening will allow senators to consider matters arising from the amendment bill, particularly following the conference committee meeting scheduled for Monday. The session may also address potential clashes between the electoral timetable and Ramadan, which is expected to fall between February 7 and 8, 2027, to ensure fasting periods do not interfere with scheduled activities.
In the statement, the Clerk of the Senate said: “I am directed by His Excellency, the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, to inform all Distinguished Senators that the Senate will reconvene plenary session as follows: Date: Tuesday, 17th February 2026; Time: 11 a.m.; Venue: Senate Chamber. Consequently, all Distinguished Senators are kindly requested to note and reschedule their engagements accordingly to enable attendance, as very crucial decisions will be taken on national issues during the session.”
Tuesday’s emergency sitting underscores the urgency of resolving issues surrounding the Electoral Act Amendment and the scheduling of the 2027 elections.