President Bola Tinubu congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the 2026 governorship election before the Independent National Electoral Commission formally declared him winner, an Accord Party chieftain, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has disclosed.

Olajengbesi made the disclosure while speaking with journalists at the INEC collation centre in Osogbo shortly after Adeleke was declared winner of the election.

He commended Tinubu for what he described as the President’s decision not to interfere with the electoral process, saying it demonstrated his commitment to ensuring that the election was free, fair and credible.

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According to him, the President had earlier directed INEC and security agencies to ensure that the election met the required standards.

However, Olajengbesi said the poll could not be considered entirely free and fair, alleging that opposition supporters were subjected to oppression and arrests.

“Let me be honest with you, we are also appreciative of Mr. President because at the commencement of this election, Mr. President himself announced to the world and gave a directive to INEC and all security agencies that this election must be free, fair, and credible.

“We want to believe that this election is very credible, but we do not agree that this election is free and fair because it was oppressive. Our people are still in detention. As I speak to you today, even during the election, over 11 persons were arrested in the process.”

Despite his concerns, Olajengbesi praised Tinubu for allowing the electoral process to continue and respecting the outcome.

“We are glad that the president was able to stand by his word and insist that the right thing must be done,” he said.

He further revealed that Tinubu had contacted Adeleke to congratulate him before INEC formally announced the result.

“Let me tell you this quickly: even before the result was declared yesterday night, Mr. President called Mr. Governor and congratulated him, and that is good leadership,” Olajengbesi said.

Adeleke won the election with 511,067 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who secured 444,815 votes.

A fire outbreak has ravaged part of the Technology Incubation Centre near the Police Headquarters in Gombe, destroying property estimated at N4 million.

The incident occurred on Friday and affected five shops at the centre, according to the Federal Fire Service, Gombe State Command.

The command said its prompt intervention prevented the fire from spreading further, enabling firefighters to save property estimated at N15 million.

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The Federal Fire Service said it received a distress call about the incident at approximately 10:14 a.m., after which a multipurpose water tender was immediately deployed to the scene.

The firefighting operation was led by ASF II Mukhtar Shehu, with IF Bernard serving as the driver.

The crew successfully contained the blaze and extinguished it using one medium jet of water.

According to the command, four of the five affected shops were successfully saved, limiting the extent of the damage.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASF MB Muazu, said firefighters carried out a thorough inspection after extinguishing the flames and confirmed that there was no immediate threat of re-ignition.

Muazu said, “The Federal Fire Service, Gombe State Command, has successfully contained a fire outbreak involving five shops at the Technology Incubation Centre, near the Police Headquarters, Gombe.”

He added, “Four of the five affected shops were successfully saved, with property estimated at N15m salvaged, while the estimated loss stood at approximately N4m.”

The fire appliance and crew returned to the station at about 11:09 a.m. after confirming that the fire had been completely extinguished.

The Federal Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to responding promptly to emergencies and protecting lives and property.

Muazu urged members of the public to report fire incidents promptly and adhere to basic fire safety precautions to prevent avoidable losses.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has expressed the view that Nigeria’s positive economic outlook is predicated on the strategic reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and improved crude oil output.

The views were expressed in its latest assessment of the Nigerian economy, in which it noted that the country’s economy expanded by 3.9 percent year-on-year in Q1, 2026.

It added that the growth rate was only slightly below the 4.0 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, a confirmation that economic growth remained close to recent highs.

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According to the oil producers’ organisation, the non-oil economy continued to provide the main support for growth, with activity driven by agriculture, manufacturing, construction, trade, finance and insurance.

It pointed out that higher oil output had also improved fiscal revenues, foreign exchange inflows and external buffers. “The economy expanded by 3.9 percent, year-on-year, in 1Q26, only slightly below the 4Q25 pace of 4.0 percent, confirming that growth remains close to recent highs,” OPEC stated.

The organisation said survey indicators pointed to continued, though moderating, momentum in private-sector activity. It noted that the Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) eased to 52.5 in July, from 53.4 in June and 54.1 in May.

The July reading, it said, was the weakest since March but still signalled a sixth consecutive monthly improvement in private-sector conditions. The OPEC said firms again reported a marked increase in new orders, supported by improved customer demand, better pricing and new product launches.

It added that output and employment also rose modestly during the month. The organisation predicted that higher domestic refining capacity, particularly improved fuel supply from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP), should further support energy availability and reduce some of the pressures associated with petroleum imports.

“Higher domestic refining capacity, including improved fuel supply from the Dangote refinery, should continue to support energy availability and reduce some import-related pressures,” OPEC stated.

The DPRP, with a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has become a major source of locally refined petroleum products as its operations have expanded.

The refinery’s increased supply of petrol and other refined products has also reduced some of the country’s reliance on imported petroleum products, in line with the impact highlighted by the OPEC.

On inflation, the OPEC said pressures had begun to soften, with headline inflation standing at 15.9 percent year-on-year in both June and May. “The July PMI pointed to softening input costs, despite higher fuel and raw material costs,” the organisation stated.

The report said the moderation in input costs was an indication that some cost pressures facing businesses had begun to ease, although higher fuel and raw material costs remained a challenge.

The OPEC said Nigeria’s near-term outlook remained positive, with oil production, reform progress, infrastructure investment and stronger business activity providing support.

“Overall, Nigeria’s near-term outlook remains positive, supported by oil production, progress on reforms, infrastructure investment, and stronger business activity,” it stated.