Compilations of top 10 key latest updates that you need to know this Wednesday morning, 11th February, 2026
Electoral Act Amendment: Opposition protests as senators back manual results transmission
The Senate on Tuesday bowed to intense public pressure and approved the electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal, IReV, while permitting manual collation to serve as a backup where technology fails.
The decision followed an emergency reconsideration of a disputed clause in the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, after days of nationwide outrage, street protests, and sustained criticism from opposition figures, civil society organisations and youth movements.
However, the Upper Chamber stopped short of making electronic transmission compulsory and rejected calls for the explicit inclusion of real-time upload of results, a key demand by protesters who accused lawmakers of attempting to weaken electoral safeguards ahead of the 2027 general elections
Under the reviewed provision, presiding officers at polling units are required to electronically transmit results to the IReV portal after voting and documentation have been completed.
Appeal Court affirms suspension of Natasha
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Monday, affirmed the decision of the Senate to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti, holding that the red chamber acted within its powers.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel in Natasha’s appeal against the Clerk of the National Assembly and three others, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025, the appellate court ruled that the suspension did not breach Akpoti-Uduaghan’s parliamentary privileges or constitutional rights.
However, the court set aside the contempt proceedings and a N5m fine imposed on the lawmaker over a satirical apology she directed at the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abba Muhammed held that the Senate President acted within the Rules by denying Akpoti-Uduaghan the opportunity to speak during plenary on February 20, 2025, as she was not seated in her officially allotted seat.
Pressure mounts on Bayelsa gov over choice of deputy
Political lobbying and consultations intensified in Bayelsa State as attention shifted to who emerges as successor to the late deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Even before the burial of the late deputy governor, political consultations and lobbying had been ongoing, following his refusal to join his principal, Governor Douye Diri, to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Ewhrudjakpo died on December 11, 2025, at the age of 60, after collapsing in his office in Yenagoa.
He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, where he was pronounced dead.
His death sparked a debate over whether the next deputy governor should come from Sagbama Local Government Area, where he hailed from, or the existing zoning arrangements within Bayelsa West Senatorial District should prevail.
States pay N455bn to service foreign loans
States paid N455.38bn in foreign debt service in 2025, up from N362.08bn in 2024, according to Federation Accounts Allocation Committee figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics and obtained and analysed by The PUNCH.
The year-on-year comparison indicates that subnational governments’ foreign debt deductions rose by N93.30bn, representing a 25.77 per cent increase in 2025 over the prior year.
In plain terms, states collectively lost a larger share of their FAAC inflows to external loan repayments and related obligations in 2025 than in 2024, tightening the fiscal space available for salaries, capital projects, and routine governance.
The monthly pattern in 2025 also shows step-downs rather than a smooth curve.
Total foreign debt service across the 36 states stood at N40.09bn in January, before easing to N39.10bn in February, a month-on-month drop of N994.96m, or 2.48 per cent.
PDP crisis: Appeal Court orders harmonised briefs ahead of judgment
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, will on Thursday take a major step towards resolving the protracted leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party by adopting harmonised briefs filed by parties in the dispute.
This followed the sitting of the court today in Abuja.
Sighted at the court were leaders of the party, led by the governors-backed national chairman, Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and members of the National Working Committee, Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), among many other chieftains.
The faction is seeking authenticity, following the ruling of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, which nullified the November 2025 convention that brought the Turaki-led NWC into office.
Borno ADC chair apologises for rejecting transitional, registration committees
The Chairman of the African Democratic Congress in Borno State, Umar Bolori, has apologised over his rejection of the party’s constituted transitional and registration committee in the state, acknowledging his actions as an “error”.
The chairman made the apology during a press briefing in Maiduguri, the state capital on Tuesday evening.
According to PUNCH online on January 13, the party in the state disassociated itself from the Transitional and Registration committees allegedly set up by one of its chieftains, Kashim Imam.
Bolori, while addressing newsmen at the time, described Imam’s committees as “political jobbers” who were out to infiltrate the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nigerian arrested with cocaine in India
Operatives of the Goa Police Crime Branch in India have arrested a 42-year-old Nigerian national, Omorigo Friday, for alleged possession and peddling of cocaine valued at about 15.89 lakh in the international market.
The arrest followed a raid in Pilerne, North Goa, on Friday, during which operatives seized 31.794 grams of suspected high-grade cocaine.
According to a report by Press Trust of India, the suspect was intercepted by the operatives, who recovered the contraband described as a white crystal powder believed to be cocaine.
A subsequent search on Friday led to the recovery of the substance, which was estimated to have a street value of 15.89 lakh.
7 killed, many injured in Benue attacks
Seven persons have been killed in two separate attacks in Benue State.
In the first attack, five people were killed by suspected armed herdsmen on Entekpa community, Adoka, Otukpo Local Government Area of the state, while gunmen on Monday night along the Utonkon axis of the state, ambushed a commercial bus conveying passengers, killing two persons and abducting 14 others.
In the Adoka attack, several villagers sustained gunshot wounds, while scores remain unaccounted for, according to a source in the area.
The community member disclosed that the attackers arrived with a large number of cattle before suddenly opening fire on residents.
“They came with many cows, and nobody spoke to them. Suddenly, they started shooting innocent people and burning houses,” he said.
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, February 11, 2026
The Nigerian Naira maintained its positive momentum against the United States Dollar during the mid-week trading session on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
The local currency continues to find a firm support level in the official market, marking a period of sustained stability that has characterized much of the current month.
In the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the Naira opened the trading day at approximately 1,353.25 per dollar.
Following the opening bell, the currency experienced minor fluctuations, showing a high of 1,359.83 before settling at a mid-morning average of 1,355.46.
Electoral Act: ‘Real time’ doesn’t guarantee transparent election — Seriake Dickson
Senator Seriake Dickson, a member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, has said the removal of the words “real time” from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill does not weaken the provision for electronic transmission of results or undermine electoral transparency.
Speaking on Tuesday in an interview with ARISE News, Dickson said the Senate’s latest decision still makes electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV) mandatory.
“I don’t count the proceedings of today and the outcome as a loss for democracy,” he said.
The Senate had reviewed Clause 60(3) of the bill after public backlash and restored electronic transmission of results, while retaining a proviso that allows manual collation where network failure occurs.
Critics argue that removing the explicit requirement for “real-time” transmission leaves room for manipulation.
