- as National Assembly considers major change
The National Assembly announced yesterday that it would reconvene its plenary session tomorrow, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, cutting short its recess amid indications that lawmakers may review the date set for the 2027 presidential election.
Findings by our correspondent showed that the National Assembly may shift the presidential poll to February 13, 2027.
In a notice signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, senators and members of the House of Representatives were directed to resume sitting at 11 am and adjust their schedules accordingly, as “very crucial decisions” are expected to be taken during the session.
“I am directed to inform all Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly that the Senate and House of Representatives shall reconvene plenary session at 11:00 am on Tuesday, 17th February 2026, respectively,” the notice read.
“Consequently, all Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members are kindly requested to take note and reschedule their engagements accordingly to enable them attend the session, as very crucial decisions shall be taken by each Chamber during the session,” Ogunlana added.
However, sources within the National Assembly, speaking to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, revealed that the public notice masks a more pressing agenda.
“It is more of an extraordinary plenary session to review the 2027 presidential election date as stipulated in the Electoral Act amendment.
That is why our recess has been cut short through the announcement made by the Clerk of the National Assembly,” a senator confided.
“The ultimate aim is to give legislative backing to INEC’s re- quest to address the concerns raised regarding the 2027 election slated to hold during Ramadan,” the lawmaker added.
Another Senate insider told our correspondent: “If all goes ac- cording to plan, the presidential poll date may be brought forward to February 13 from the previously announced February 20 by INEC.”
Similarly, a Senate source told our correspondent: “This session is crucial. It is about more than dates — it is about ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of faith, has a fair opportunity to participate in the electoral pro- cess. The decisions we take here could define the credibility of the 2027 elections.”
The development comes barely a week after the Senate, bowing to public pressure, approved the electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal, while retaining manual collation as a backup in areas where technology may fail.
The emergency reconsideration arose from a disputed clause in the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, which had triggered days of nationwide protests and intense criticism from opposition figures, civil society groups, and youth movements.
Despite approving the electronic transmission system, the Senate stopped short of making it compulsory and rejected calls for real-time uploads of results — a key demand of protesters who had accused lawmakers of undermining electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under the revised provision, presiding officers at polling units must electronically transmit results to the IReV portal after voting concludes and documentation is completed. Where electronic transmission is not possible due to network challenges, the manual result sheet, Form EC8A, will serve as the primary basis for collation and declaration.
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