Compilations of top 10 key latest stories that you need to know this Wednesday morning, 18th February, 2026
2027 elections: Lawmakers protest as NASS okays e-transmission, manual backup
The National Assembly on Tuesday approved the electronic transmission of election results but retained manual collation as a backup, triggering protests, a walkout by opposition lawmakers and heated debates in both chambers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What should have been a routine legislative correction to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill instead degenerated into one of the most dramatic sittings of the 10th Assembly, exposing deep partisan fault lines ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the Senate, 15 lawmakers, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC, Abia South), stood defiantly against a controversial proviso in Clause 60(3) that recognises the manually completed Form EC8A as the primary source of collation where electronic transmission fails.
In the House of Representatives, the minority caucus staged a walkout, accusing the Speaker Tajudeen Abbas leadership of railroading amendments and frustrating attempts to insist on mandatory real-time electronic transmission without caveats.
Ondo APC chair beaten as party meeting erupts in chaos
A pre-congress stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State turned violent on Tuesday as suspected thugs invaded the party secretariat in Akure, leaving many injured and the state chairman and a commissioner beaten.
The incident occurred less than 24 hours before the nationwide ward congress scheduled to be held across 203 wards in the state.
An eyewitness, Yetunde Adeyanju, said the attackers, armed with dangerous weapons, shouted that they were from Aiyedatiwa and claimed,
“We don’t want congress in Ondo State.
The governor is in charge. The governor is the leader of the state, and the governor is in charge.
“Nobody can query the authority of the governor, and anybody who wants to talk about congress in Ondo State will be assassinated.
If you talk about congress in Ondo State, you will be assassinated.”
N432bn probe: EFCC extends El-Rufai detention as lawyer pushes for bail
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday spent the second night in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as his lawyer, A.U Mustapha (SAN), pushes for his release on bail.
There are, however, indications that the commission may seek a remand order to extend his stay in custody to enable him to respond to questions posed by investigators handling his matter.
The former governor arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday around 10 a.m. for questioning in connection with an alleged N432bn corruption probe.
He was, however, detained at the commission, where investigators continued to grill him.
An official of the commission who pleaded anonymity said the anti-graft agency was considering obtaining a remand order after the expiration of the hours allowed by law to enable investigators conclude questioning him.
“Forget the speculations being peddled on social media that he has been released. He has not.
El-Rufai is still with us and will be spending another night in custody.
Cash crunch: Ministers lament as N10tn capital funding stalls
Ministers in charge of key infrastructure and service-delivery agencies are grappling with a severe funding squeeze, as figures obtained by The PUNCH showed that MDAs received less than N1tn for capital projects in the first seven months of 2025.
The data used for this report was the most updated available from the Budget Office of the Federation, as the agency had yet to release comprehensive full-year implementation figures, despite the fiscal year being well advanced.
Analysts and public finance experts have repeatedly criticised the Budget Office for delays in publishing up-to-date budget performance data and for what they describe as weak transparency standards in the dissemination of government fiscal information, particularly under the current administration of Bola Tinubu.
An analysis of data from the Budget Office of the Federation’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (2026–2028) showed that while N18.53tn was appropriated for capital expenditure for “MDAs and others” in 2025, the January–July pro rata benchmark stood at N10.81tn.
Kano CP decorates 695 newly promoted ASPs
The Kano State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Bakori, has decorated 695 newly promoted officers with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police with a call on them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and leadership.
This is contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna on Wednesday.
CP Bakori, who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, DCP Lawal Mani, said their promotion was a testament to their hard work and dedication to the Force.
The Command held a decoration ceremony on Tuesday to confer 695 newly promoted officers with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police across all the Formations and Departments.
Gombe gov unveils major projects, new LCDA secretariats
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, on Tuesday, hosted his Yobe State counterpart, Mai Mala Buni, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, for the inauguration of major projects and the groundbreaking of new Local Council Development Areas secretariats.
Among the projects inaugurated were the new Nafada Local Government Secretariat, the Nafada four-span bridge, and a mega non-formal learning centre (Tsangaya School), all described as strategic interventions aimed at boosting governance and socio-economic development in Nafada and adjoining communities.
The new secretariat replaces a dilapidated structure that had long hindered effective service delivery, while the four-span bridge resolves years of seasonal inaccessibility that cut off communities during the rainy season.
The Tsangaya School is designed to integrate Almajiri children into a structured and supportive learning system.
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, February 18, 2026
The Nigerian foreign exchange market continues to witness shifts as both the official and parallel markets react to mid-week liquidity demands.
As of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the Naira has shown a slight fluctuation in value against the United States Dollar.
According to data from the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the Naira is currently trading at an average of 1,345.45 per Dollar.
This follows a period of volatile trading during the early morning hours, where the rate saw a brief dip to 1,343.76 before stabilizing at its current level.
Market analysts attribute the relative stability in the official window to consistent interventions by the Central Bank and a steady flow of export proceeds.
However, the intraday high and low margins remain a point of focus for corporate buyers looking to hedge against potential afternoon shifts.
2027: Reps cave in, back Senate on Electoral Act amendment
Fresh turmoil engulfed the National Assembly yesterday, as minority members of the House of Representatives staged a dramatic walk-out over contentious provisions in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, even as police tear-gassed protesters demanding mandatory electronic transmission of results ahead of the 2027 general election.
On a day marked by high political drama, heated arguments and street protests, the House caved in to pressure and adopted Clause 60(3), which provides for both real-time electronic and manual transmission of election results.
It also passed Clause 84, dealing with the mode of nomination of candidates by political parties.
According to Vanguard on Monday, the House of Representatives, which had earlier passed e-transmission of results, was under pressure to adopt the Senate version which provided for conditional e-transmission.
Lent, Ramadan begin today
President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has confirmed that the crescent signalling the start of Ramadan 2026 has been sighted.
According to a statement by Sambo Junaidu, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council, yesterday, the leader of Muslims in Nigeria said verified reports of moon sightings were received from various parts of the country and were carefully authenticated.
Similarly, the Lenten season for Christians begins today, as Catholic faithful observe Ash Wednesday.
3 arrested over cult killings in Edo
Three suspected cultists allegedly linked to last Friday’s cult-related killings in Benin City have been arrested in a joint operation by the Edo State Special Security Squad, ESSS, and operatives of the state Police Command.
The suspects were apprehended during coordinated raids in the Amagba and Obagie communities, where security operatives reportedly recovered fetish items, arms and ammunition from their residences.
Those arrested were identified as Osazee Omoruyi; Innocent Okunozee, said to be the Okiaghale (youth leader) of Obagie community; and Anito Osahon.
Owo church massacre: Suspected terrorists paid, mobilised for attack – DSS witness
A witness of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the suspected terrorists were funded, armed and mobilised to attack St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State, on June 5, 2022.
The witness, who was giving his testimony under protection, led a DSS investigation team into the attack.
He gave details of the roles played by the defendants in the attack in which he said over 40 people died, while over 100 individuals sustained various injuries.
Identified as SSI for security reasons, the witness, who was the 9th prosecution witness (PW-9), spoke while giving his evidence before Justice Emeka Nwite.
Dangote signs $400m equipment deal to fast-track refinery expansion
Dangote Group has signed a $400 million construction equipment agreement with XCMG Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., one of China’s leading manufacturers of construction machinery, in a move set to accelerate the expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day, positioning it to become the largest refinery in the world.
The agreement will enable the Group to acquire an additional wide range of advanced construction equipment to support ongoing and forthcoming projects across refining, petrochemicals, agriculture and large-scale infrastructure development.
The new equipment will complement existing assets deployed for the refinery expansion, which is expected to be completed within three years.
