The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday seized the international passport of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

El-Rufai was reportedly stopped by security operatives upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.

A senior security source confirmed to Arise News that the action was taken at the request of an anti-graft agency, widely reported to be the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to the source, the seizure of the passport was not an arrest but a measure to ensure that the former governor honours an outstanding invitation from the anti-corruption agency for questioning over an ongoing investigation.

“There was no attempt to detain or arrest him. The move was strictly in line with a request to ensure compliance with an invitation,” the source said.

As of press time, neither El-Rufai nor the EFCC had issued an official public statement regarding the development.

The incident has sparked political reactions, with observers closely watching how the matter unfolds amid heightened scrutiny of public office holders and former state executives.

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The crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) has taken a new turn following the forceful takeover of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja by a caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman.

The takeover happened on Tuesday at the party’s headquarters in Utako, Abuja, weeks after a Federal High Court ruling in January 2026 recognised Nenadi Usman as chairman of a Labour Party caretaker committee. The court decision followed an earlier April 2025 Supreme Court directive ordering political parties to strictly adhere to their constitutions, especially where leadership tenures had expired.

Addressing supporters after gaining access to the secretariat, Senator Usman said the caretaker committee was acting within the law and promised sweeping reforms to reposition the party ahead of future elections. According to her, plans are already underway to introduce electronic membership registration and restructure the party following internal crises that have lingered since the 2023 general elections.

Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, who was present during the takeover, dismissed claims by rival factions that the action was illegal, insisting that the caretaker committee was simply enforcing a valid court judgment.

However, the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has strongly condemned the action, describing it as a “midnight invasion” carried out with the support of security agencies.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Abure faction alleged that hoodlums invaded the secretariat around 1am, pulled down official Labour Party billboards and replaced them with those bearing the name of Senator Nenadi Usman.

The statement further claimed that eight truckloads of police officers were deployed to the secretariat, preventing party staff and senior officials from accessing their offices, while only members loyal to the Nenadi Usman interim leadership were allowed entry.

“The Abure-led leadership is dumbfounded by the invasion of its secretariat by the Nenadi camp aided by the police in the early hours of Tuesday,” the statement read.

According to the faction, offices were forcefully opened and files and other party materials carted away. It added that party officials deliberately avoided confrontation to prevent violence and breakdown of law and order.

While acknowledging that a Federal High Court had recognised Senator Usman as interim chairman, the Abure faction stressed that it had since obtained a stay of execution and filed an appeal against the judgment. It described the takeover as an act of self-help and a violation of due process.

The faction called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Office of the National Security Adviser and other relevant security agencies to urgently intervene, warning that failure to do so could threaten Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

The development once again highlights the deep internal divisions within the Labour Party, as both factions continue to battle for legitimacy amid ongoing court cases and leadership disputes.

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The Nigerian Senate has approved provisions for the electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), while retaining manual collation as a fallback mechanism in cases of technological failure.

This adjustment came during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, following intense public backlash, protests, and calls from civil society groups, opposition figures like Peter Obi, and stakeholders who demanded stronger safeguards ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The upper chamber reconsidered its earlier decision made during the third reading of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 on February 4—to reject mandatory real-time uploads. Instead, senators amended the relevant clause (around Section 60) to accommodate electronic transmission of results, but made it non-mandatory.

The process allows presiding officers to upload results to IReV where technology permits, with manual processes via Form EC8A serving as the primary method if internet or system issues arise.

However, the Senate stopped short of enforcing compulsory real-time transmission or uploads, opting to preserve flexibility for INEC to prescribe the manner of result transfer in line with existing provisions from the 2022 Electoral Act.

This means electronic transmission is permitted and encouraged but not required in all circumstances, drawing criticism from those who argue it fails to fully address past issues of result manipulation at collation centers.

The decision sparked rowdy scenes in the chamber during debates, with some lawmakers protesting the motion to rescind and re-amend the clause. Senate leadership, including President Godswill Akpabio, has maintained that electronic transmission itself was not rejected only the strict “real-time” and mandatory elements were adjusted to avoid potential disruptions in areas with poor connectivity.

The bill, which introduces other electoral reforms, now heads toward harmonization with the House of Representatives’ version, which reportedly endorsed stronger real-time provisions.

Public pressure continues to mount, with groups urging the National Assembly to prioritize transparency and restore confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process for future polls..

Watch video of the plenary HERE

Nigeria’s Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, February 10, following widespread backlash over its recent amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly provisions on the electronic transmission of election results.

On February 4, lawmakers passed amendments that leave the electronic transmission of results to the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), rather than making real-time uploads to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal mandatory. The Senate cited concerns over network failures in parts of the country as justification for the move.

Defending the decision, Senate President Godswill Akpabio argued that a rigid requirement for real-time electronic transmission could expose election outcomes to legal challenges in areas with poor connectivity. He said the amendment was intended to safeguard the electoral process from avoidable technical disputes.

However, the decision has triggered sharp criticism from civil society groups and activists. Prominent rights activist Aisha Yesufu condemned the amendment, warning that it could weaken transparency and open the door to electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections. Advocacy groups, including Enough is Enough Nigeria, have also accused the Senate of rolling back hard-won electoral reforms.

Amid growing public pressure and plans for nationwide protests, the Senate announced it would reconvene in an emergency session to address concerns surrounding the amendment. The bill is also expected to proceed to the House of Representatives before being forwarded to the President for assent.

The coming days are likely to test public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral reform process, as debate intensifies over the balance between technological limitations and the demand for transparent, credible elections.

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The Senate on Wednesday passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after hours of intense deliberations, clarifying that it did not reject electronic transmission of election results but only turned down a proposal seeking mandatory real-time upload of polling unit results.

The controversy centred on Clause 60 of the bill, which governs the transmission of election results. Lawmakers voted to retain the existing provision in the 2022 Electoral Act, allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the mode of electronic transmission, rather than compelling presiding officers to upload results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real time.

Under the retained clause, presiding officers are required to record votes scored by each candidate on INEC-prescribed forms after counting at the polling unit. The forms must be signed, stamped, and countersigned by party agents where available, before results are announced at the polling unit and transmitted electronically in a manner determined by INEC.

Any presiding officer who wilfully violates the provision risks a fine of up to ₦500,000 or a minimum of six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

The Senate rejected the proposed amendment that would have expressly mandated real-time electronic transmission of results to IReV after the signing of Form EC8A. Opponents of the proposal argued that the phrase “real time” was vague, impractical in areas with poor network coverage, and could expose the electoral process to unnecessary litigation.

Akpabio: Senate Did Not Reject Electronic Transmission

Amid widespread speculation on social media, Senate President Godswill Akpabio firmly dismissed claims that lawmakers voted against electronic transmission of results.

“That is not true,” Akpabio said. “What we did was to retain the electronic transmission that existed in the 2022 Act. Retaining that provision means electronic transmission remains part of our law. Under my watch, the Senate has not rejected electronic transmission of election results.”

He added that the Senate was “moving forward, not backwards,” stressing that the existing law already allows electronic transmission and was applied during the 2022 elections.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, echoed Akpabio’s position, noting that the disagreement was about wording rather than substance.

“Results must be transmitted electronically and made available to the public,” Adaramodu said. “At the same time, physical forms like EC8A will remain evidence. We now have correlating evidence electronic transmission and physical documents.”

He warned against what he described as over-legalising the process with ambiguous terms such as “real time,” arguing that network challenges in remote areas could undermine elections.

Major Changes to Electoral Timelines

Beyond result transmission, the Senate approved sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s electoral calendar. Lawmakers reduced the election notice period from 360 days to 180 days before the expiration of an administration’s tenure.

Political parties are now required to submit their list of candidates not later than 90 days before a general election, while deadlines for nominations were also cut to 90 days.

On voter accreditation, the Senate formally replaced the smart card reader with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), while retaining the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) as the sole means of voter identification. A proposal to allow alternative voter IDs, including downloadable QR-coded cards, was rejected.

Stricter Penalties, No Political Ban

Lawmakers increased penalties for electoral offences, raising the fine for unlawful possession of voters’ cards from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million. However, the Senate rejected a proposal to impose a 10-year ban on individuals convicted of vote buying and similar offences.

Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, supported by Akpabio and the Deputy Senate President, argued that while stiffer fines and prison terms were appropriate, a decade-long political ban was excessive.

Rerun Elections for Disqualified Candidates

One of the most far-reaching amendments relates to post-election disputes. Under the new provision, political parties will no longer be allowed to replace candidates disqualified after elections.

Instead, where a returned candidate is found not to have won the majority of valid votes, a rerun election will be conducted, excluding both the disqualified candidate and the sponsoring party.

Adaramodu said the amendment would reduce pre-election litigation and promote democratic fairness.

Next Steps

Akpabio announced the formation of a conference committee chaired by Senator Simon Lalong to harmonise the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the bill. The committee has been mandated to conclude its work within the month to enable transmission of a harmonised bill to the President for assent.

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