Compilations of top 10 key latest updates that you need to know this Friday morning, 13th February, 2026
NASS to harmonise Electoral Bill Monday
Members of the Joint National Assembly Conference Committee constituted to reconcile differences in the Electoral Amendment Bill passed separately by the Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to meet on Monday as lawmakers move to transmit a harmonised version to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Findings by The PUNCH on Thursday showed that the joint panel, made up of members from both chambers, has been given a one-week window to resolve contentious provisions in the bill — notably those dealing with the electronic transmission of election results.
The decision to harmonise the bill follows the passage of different versions by the Senate and the House, particularly on the role of technology in result collation and transmission.
Under legislative procedure, where both chambers pass varying texts of the same bill, a conference committee is set up to produce a single version acceptable to both sides before transmission to the President.
INEC seeks nearly N1tn for 2027 elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday informed the National Assembly that it requires N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections.
The agency also demanded N171bn to fund its operations in the 2026 fiscal year.
The N873.78bn proposed for the 2027 elections represents a significant increase from the N313.4bn released by the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
The country will hold general elections in 2027, while Ekiti and Osun states will conduct governorship elections this year, alongside the Federal Capital Territory election and by-elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the projected cost for the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
According to Amupitan, the N873.78bn election budget covers the full conduct of the 2027 general elections, while the N171bn proposal for 2026 is to support routine activities, including by-elections and off-season polls.
2027: Atiku, Fayose clash over Makinde’s Minna visit
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday dismissed claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, over an alleged political deal involving Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as “desperate” and “baseless.”
Fayose, however, threatened to expose details of the Minna meeting with former Head of State, Gen Ibrahim Babangida.
The reaction followed reports of a closed-door meeting between Atiku and Makinde at Babangida’s Minna residence, which sparked speculation about a possible 2027 political arrangement.
Following the meeting, Fayose claimed in a Wednesday statement that Makinde had offered to join the African Democratic Congress as Atiku’s 2027 running mate, promising N10bn to help the party get started and to deliver delegates to secure Atiku’s ADC presidential ticket.
Fayose concluded that the duo had fixed another meeting for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to conclude negotiations.
2027: Supporting Tinubu a must for the North – APC national chair
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as efforts aimed at taking Nigeria to greater heights since assuming office in 2023.
He also said the Tinubu administration had favoured the Northern region more than any other part of the country in terms of projects and capacity building, urging Northerners to reciprocate by supporting the President’s re-election bid in 2027.
Yilwatda spoke in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Thursday during a solidarity rally held to appreciate the President and Governor Abdullahi Sule for what organisers termed their good works.
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, February 13, 2026
The Nigerian Naira maintained a stable outlook against the United States Dollar during the Friday morning trading session on February 13, 2026.
As the market enters the final session of the week, the local currency continues to benefit from a consistent policy environment and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recent initiatives to boost retail dollar supply.
In the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the Naira opened the day at approximately 1,356.33 per dollar.
Following the initial trades, the rate showed minor fluctuations, settling at a mid-morning average of 1,355.58.
Banks to pay N10m fine for using unaccredited cheque printer
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has slammed a N10 million fine and withdrawal of cheques on commercial banks using unaccredited cheque printers/personaliser.
The apex bank disclosed this in its revised sanctions regime on defaulters of the Nigeria Cheque Standard and Nigeria Cheque Printers’ Accreditation Scheme (NICPAS).
Among other things, CBN said:
“Offence of engagement of unaccredited commercial cheque printer/personaliser by commercial banks as reported by accredited cheque personalisers/printers or via CBN/MTIC audit will attract withdrawal of cheques from circulation and N10 million fine; withdrawal of cheques from circulation and N20 million fine for a repeat offence.
Mining: Alake vows justice for police officer killed in Niger
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has vowed to ensure justice for a Police officer killed on Wednesday during a joint patrol operation in Niger.
The team comprised the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), and local security operatives known as the Anti-Drugs Control (ADC), in collaboration with Millennium Metals Mining Company.
Alake made this known in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Thursday in Abuja.
Atiku/Makinde: Political ripples as Fayose reacts to Minna meeting dispute
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has responded to remarks attributed to Paul Ibe, a media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, over reports concerning discussions linked to a recent political meeting in Minna.
In a statement, personally signed by Fayose, dated February 12, 2026, Fayose expressed dissatisfaction with the aide’s reaction to his earlier comments about the encounter involving Atiku and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
He said he found the response surprising but suggested he believed the former vice president might not have personally authorised it.
Fayose stated that, out of respect for Atiku, he would assume the statement was issued without his approval and expressed expectation that the former vice president would clarify his position publicly.
Power outage looms amid scheduled power plants maintenance
Electricity generation across the country is expected to dip temporarily as scheduled maintenance on a major gas facility will curtail supply to several thermal power plants.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Thursday announced that Seplat Energy Plc, a joint venture partner and key supplier of gas into the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) pipeline network, has scheduled routine maintenance on its gas production facilities from February 12 to 15, 2026.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Andy Odeh, the four-day maintenance forms part of standard safety and asset integrity protocols aimed at ensuring the continued reliability and efficiency of critical gas infrastructure.
Gunmen abduct 12-year-old schoolgirl in Ibadan; police launch investigation
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a 12-year-old female secondary school student in the Challenge area of Ibadan, describing the incident as a suspected kidnapping and assuring the public that efforts are underway to rescue the victim safely.
The pupil, a Junior Secondary School 2 student of Monarch Model College, was reportedly abducted in the early hours of Thursday while being dropped off at school.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, who were masked and arrived in a vehicle without number plates, allegedly trailed the girl’s mother before striking at a junction leading to the school premises.
