Morning recap: Adeleke extends olive branch, Kwankwaso explains Obi alliance, other top stories

From Adeleke’s victory and call for peace in Osun State, to Rabiu Kwankwaso’s explanation of his alliance with Peter Obi ahead of 2027, a woman found dead with a severed hand in an Osogbo church, President Bola Tinubu’s insistence that the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries will work, and the release of American missionary Kevin Rideout after more than nine months in captivity in Niger, these are the major stories making headlines this morning.

Here’s your complete morning roundup:

1. Osun poll victory: Adeleke extends olive branch, APC mulls tribunal challenge

Following his re-election, Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for peace and unity in Osun State, while the APC said it was studying the results before deciding whether to challenge the outcome. Adeleke polled 511,067 votes against Bola Oyebamiji’s 444,815.

The governor dedicated his victory to the people and appealed to his opponents to work together. “In this race, there is no victor, no vanquished. I extend an olive branch to my co-contestants. I am the Governor of all Osun people,” Adeleke said.

The APC said it would consult its lawyers on available legal options. ADC candidate Najeem Salaam also congratulated Adeleke, saying, “Politics is not a do-or-die affair. The people have spoken; democracy has prevailed.”

2. 2027: Kwankwaso explains Obi alliance, declares Ganduje, Yusuf finished

Ahead of the 2027 election, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has explained his decision to pair with Peter Obi, citing national interest, equity and political change. He also said former governors Ibrahim Shekarau and Abdullahi Ganduje, alongside Governor Abba Yusuf, had lost political relevance.

Kwankwaso said his experience since 2023 helped him understand Obi better. “Over these last four years, I was able to learn a lot and realised that Peter is somebody that I could work together with,” he said.

He described the ticket as one based on regional balance, competence and credibility, saying public office was about service rather than personal ambition. “To me, being in government is to serve. I don’t have to be president. I don’t have to even be vice president,” he added.

3. Osun woman found dead with severed hand inside church

Amid an ongoing police investigation, an unidentified woman was found dead inside a church premises in Obelewo, Osogbo, Osun State, with her left wrist reportedly severed and taken away.

Police detectives visited the scene after the discovery, while preliminary findings indicated that the woman had allegedly been slaughtered. The police said the motive and circumstances surrounding the killing remained unknown.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, said, “The investigations revealed that the deceased was slaughtered and her left wrist severed and taken away by unknown persons.” He added that the corpse had been deposited at a hospital mortuary for autopsy as detectives continued efforts to identify the deceased and establish what happened.

4. Tinubu bets on PH, Warri refineries despite Obasanjo’s doubts

Amid renewed debate over Nigeria’s moribund refineries, President Bola Tinubu has insisted that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries will return to operation, despite former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s doubts about their viability.

Tinubu said the facilities must become profitable rather than merely produce signs of activity. “The refineries you mentioned are going to come back to work,” he said, adding that he had accepted responsibility for fixing inherited assets and liabilities.

Obasanjo has advocated private-sector involvement, while energy expert Dan Kunle urged the President to privatise the facilities. However, the Port Harcourt Refinery Host Community Bulk Petroleum Retailers Association backed the proposed restart, pledging support for Tinubu if the facility becomes fully operational.

5. US missionary kidnapped in Niger reunited with wife, returning home – Trump

After more than nine months in captivity, American missionary Kevin Rideout has been released in Niger and is preparing to return to the United States after being reunited with his wife, Krista.

US President Donald Trump confirmed the development on Truth Social, saying Rideout was preparing to fly home. “I am happy to reveal that former hostage Kevin Rideout is getting ready to fly home to the United States after having been reunited with his beautiful wife, Krista,” Trump wrote.

Rideout, a missionary and pilot with SIM International, was abducted outside his home in Niamey in October 2025. The organisation said he was in good health and in the care of US officials. Details of his release and the identity of his captors remained unclear.

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