National Assembly recalls Lawmakers for emergency session on electoral act, 2027 timetable

By Olakunle Oke

The National Assembly is set to cut short its budget-defence recess, with both the Senate and the House of Representatives scheduled to reconvene for a high-stakes plenary on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The recall, announced by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, signals an urgent shift from fiscal deliberations to pressing constitutional and electoral matters.

While the primary reason for the hiatus was to allow Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to defend their 2026 budget proposals, the sudden reconvening is driven by a brewing controversy over the 2027 General Election timetable.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently released a schedule that has drawn significant fire from lawmakers and the public alike, primarily due to a projected clash with the Ramadan fasting period, expected to begin around February 7, 2027.

The House of Representatives, in particular, is treating Tuesday’s sitting as an emergency session to address specific amendments to the Electoral Act.

House Spokesman Akin Rotimi confirmed that the leadership aims to resolve legal bottlenecks that could hinder adjustments to the INEC timetable.

Lawmakers are seeking to ensure that the electoral process remains inclusive and does not impose undue hardship on Muslim citizens or officials observing the fast during the peak of election activities.

Beyond the Electoral Act, the chambers are expected to take very crucial decisions regarding the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

With the budget defence stage winding down, the leadership is under pressure to harmonize reports from various committees to ensure the budget is passed within a timeframe that sustains the current January-to-December fiscal cycle.

Lawmakers have been directed to adjust their private schedules to ensure a full quorum for what is expected to be a marathon legislative session.