Morning recap: Presidency, Atiku clash over killings, Osun 2026 politics, PFIPC probe other top stories

August 10, 2026 8:31 am

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar.

Politics, security, diplomacy and governance dominate the headlines as the Presidency and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar trade accusations over the killings in the country.

The political temperature in Osun State also rose ahead of the 2026 governorship election, with a PDP faction led by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola backing the APC candidate while other prominent politicians met with APC leaders.

Meanwhile, Germany deported 137 Nigerians in five chartered flights, while the embattled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council demanded media and legal representation at the House of Representatives’ probe into the controversial agency.

See top stories below:

Presidency, Atiku in fresh war of words over killings

The Presidency has responded to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s criticism of the Tinubu administration’s security record, disputing his claim that the deaths of 5,091 Nigerians in violent incidents over three months amounted to an indictment of the government.

The Presidency argued that the figure presented by Atiku failed to account for the gains recorded by security agencies during the same period, including the reported killing of more than 13,000 terrorists and the rescue of thousands of Nigerians from captivity.

The Presidency accused the former vice president of deliberately overlooking the achievements of the armed forces in the fight against terrorism in what it described as “a politics of despair.”

Osun 2026: Oyinlola-led PDP faction dumps Adeleke, backs APC’s Oyebamiji

APC, Osun — FILE: Governor Ademola Adeleke and APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, led by former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has endorsed the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Saturday’s election.

The endorsement was announced on Sunday at a gathering in Osogbo where members of the faction formally declared their support for Oyebamiji’s candidacy.

Oyinlola said the group decided to support the APC candidate after becoming dissatisfied with the administration of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, particularly over what he described as a lack of inclusion in the affairs of government.

The former governor was joined at the event by a former Secretary to the State Government, Fatai Akinbade, and former PDP National Vice Chairman, South-West, Tajudeen Oladipo.

Despite backing the APC candidate, Oyinlola stressed that the group had not abandoned the PDP.

Osun poll: Omisore, others in attendance as Akande meets APC leaders

Elders of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State have met with former governor of the state, Bisi Akande, to assess the party’s preparations for Saturday’s governorship election.

The meeting was held on Saturday at Akande’s country home in Ila Orangun, with party leaders reviewing the progress of the APC’s campaign and discussing measures to strengthen its chances at the poll.

A photograph taken after the meeting, showing Akande and his former deputy, Senator Iyiola Omisore, walking hand-in-hand, attracted widespread attention on social media and went viral on Sunday.

Two participants at the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment, confirmed that the Osun APC Elders’ Caucus reviewed the party’s campaign activities and made recommendations ahead of the election.

One of the sources said, “Many elders of the party were present and, majorly, the group, Osun APC Elders’ Caucus, reviewed the party’s campaigns so far and made some suggestions.”

Atiku accuses Obasanjo of 20-year campaign of lies, deceit

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of waging what he described as a prolonged campaign of “lies, political manipulation and orchestrated deceit” against him.

Atiku made the accusation on Sunday through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, while responding to Obasanjo’s recent claim that the former vice president had mobilised the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, to initiate moves to remove him from office during their administration between 1999 and 2007.

Obasanjo reportedly made the allegation on July 23, reigniting one of the longstanding political disputes between the two former leaders.

In his response, Atiku said allegations repeatedly made against him by Obasanjo over the past two decades were now falling apart.

He described the former president’s latest claim as part of a pattern of what he characterised as “lies, political manipulation and orchestrated deceit,” insisting that the narrative was collapsing “like a pack of cards.”

Germany deports 137 Nigerians in five chartered flights

Germany map

Germany deported at least 137 Nigerian nationals in five documented chartered operations between February and June 2026, according to reports reviewed by The PUNCH.

The deportations involved 27 Nigerians in February, 37 in March as part of a joint European Union operation involving 50 people, followed by 24 in April, 23 in May and 26 in June.

The figures, contained in reports monitored by the DERS Team and Refugees4refugees.org, indicate a growing reliance on chartered flights by Germany and other European countries to return Nigerian nationals.

Some of the deportation exercises were conducted through cooperation between Germany and other European states as part of broader efforts to return migrants.

On February 18, 2026, 27 Nigerians deported from Germany arrived at the Lagos Cargo Airport following a chartered return operation.

The latest figures bring the number of Nigerians returned through the five documented operations to 137 within the five-month period.

PFIPC scandal: Adeyemi demands media, lawyers’ presence before Reps probe

Adeniyi Adeyemi, Fake DG — File photo: Acclaimed Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi after his arrest.

The House of Representatives committee investigating the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council is yet to determine how and where it will question the council’s self-appointed Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, a source familiar with the proceedings has disclosed.

The development followed Adeyemi’s insistence that his lawyers and journalists be present before he appears before the committee for questioning.

The ad hoc committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, representing Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State, is investigating how the purported council obtained office space at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and secured more than N1.32bn in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite allegations that it has no legal backing.

The probe comes amid growing controversy over the council’s activities and its alleged operation within government structures without formal recognition.

Lawmakers are seeking to establish how the organisation gained access to government facilities and was allocated public funds, as well as determine whether there were failures in the processes responsible for verifying government agencies and approving budgetary allocations.

The investigation has drawn public attention to concerns over institutional oversight, verification procedures and the management of public funds.

Why I turned down Man United job in 2013 – Mourinho

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has disclosed that he agreed to take over as Manchester United manager in 2013 following Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure before making a last-minute U-turn to return to Chelsea.

Mourinho made the revelation in a new Netflix documentary series about his career, as reported by BBC Sport on Monday.

According to the Portuguese coach, he had initially agreed to succeed Ferguson at Old Trafford after leaving Real Madrid but eventually decided to return to Stamford Bridge, where he had previously enjoyed considerable success.

“When I left Real Madrid, I signed to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex,” Mourinho said.

Ferguson, who was preparing to retire at the time, confirmed that Mourinho had initially accepted the offer.

“I sat him down and explained the situation,” Ferguson said. “As far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then, within hours, it changed.”

Mourinho eventually opted for Chelsea, where he had previously won two Premier League titles.

Recalling the episode, Ferguson said Mourinho contacted him and explained why he had changed his decision.

“One night, he phoned me and he was crying and he says, ‘Alex, I can’t take it. I’ve given my word to Chelsea and I’m not going to break my word’,” Ferguson recalled.

Awujale: Ruling house sacks leader, two others over alleged fraud

Awujale stool — L-R: The Secretary of the Fusengbuwa family, Adeleke Adeyemi, receiving the report of the Fact-Finding Committee from its Chairman, Olusegun Olusoga and the Secretary, Adeyemo Oduneye, during the submission of the report.

Members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, have removed three of its leaders following allegations of financial inducement, document manipulation and breaches of due process in the selection of the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

Those affected are the Chairman of the ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi; his deputy, Prof Fassy Yusuf; and the Deputy Chairman, Adeodokun Ajidagba.

The decision was reached on Sunday at a meeting held at the Agunsebi Family House in Ijebu Ode and presided over by the ruling house Secretary, Adeleke Adeyemi.

Adeyemi announced the removal after a nine-member fact-finding committee constituted by the family to investigate allegations of financial inducement and other irregularities involving the three leaders submitted its 25-page report.

The development comes amid the ongoing process to select a successor to the late Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

Adetutu Sobowale

Adetutu has three years experience in publishing stories on gender, health, education, metro and fact-checking.

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