By Adegbaju Temitope
The controversy over the ancestry of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has escalated, with a member of the party, Abayomi Hunye, welcoming the senator’s threat to institute legal action over claims concerning his alleged Ekiti origin.
Adeola, who represents Ogun West in the Senate, had given Hunye and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Ambassador Folake Marcus-Bello, 24 hours to provide evidence backing their claims that he was originally from Ekiti State or face legal action.
Hunye, through his media aide, Femi Oyewale, said he was prepared to meet Adeola in court, insisting that he possessed documentary evidence to substantiate his position.
He also claimed that a legal matter concerning the disputed ancestry was already before a court, describing Adeola’s ultimatum as a political tactic designed to generate public attention.
“We want to state categorically that we welcome the threat of a lawsuit with open arms. We are more than ready to meet Senator Adeola in a court of competent jurisdiction,” Hunye said.
“Interestingly, it seems they are not well informed that the matter is already in court. Threatening us with a lawsuit, therefore, is like a political jamboree designed to make noise in the public.”
The development follows separate television appearances by Hunye and Marcus-Bello in which they questioned Adeola’s claimed Ogun ancestry. Adeola subsequently described the allegations as false and libellous and challenged both politicians to substantiate their claims.
Hunye accused Adeola of attempting to intimidate those questioning his ancestry and eligibility to contest the governorship election.
“For far too long, the political space in Ogun West has been subjected to intimidation, high-handedness, and the suppression of truth through media propaganda and sponsored brickbats,” he said.
He described the 24-hour ultimatum and threat of legal action as “a familiar diversionary tactic” and “a media gimmick designed to bully dissenting voices and evade public accountability.”
Hunye maintained that questions surrounding a political candidate’s origin and eligibility were matters of public interest, particularly ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
“The issue of a candidate’s origin and eligibility is a matter of constitutional concern, not a private affair,” he said.
“It touches on the integrity of our democratic institutions and the aspirations of the good people of Ogun State, who deserve a leader whose roots and allegiance are indisputably local.”
He challenged Adeola to take the matter to court rather than continue the controversy through the media.
“Truth is an absolute defence against libel. Rather than engaging in empty threats and grandstanding on national television, Senator Adeola should save his energy and approach the court immediately,” Hunye said.
He pledged to present what he described as “robust, verifiable facts and documentary evidence” concerning the allegation of Adeola’s Ekiti ancestry if the matter came before the court.
“The courtroom is where evidence is tested, not the pages of newspapers or sponsored broadcast interviews,” he said.
Adeola’s camp, however, has maintained that the allegation is false. His Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, said Hunye and Marcus-Bello made the disputed claims during separate appearances on Channels Television programmes without providing evidence. Adeola described the allegations as part of a controversy that had previously been raised during his bid to represent Ogun West in the Senate.
The ancestry dispute has also drawn competing claims from persons associated with Adeola’s alleged roots. Marcus-Bello has publicly challenged the senator to a debate, saying she possesses documents which, according to her, raise questions about his ancestry.
On the other hand, traditional authorities in Kemta, Ogun State, recently affirmed Adeola’s connection to the community.
The Oluwo of Kemta and Baaye of Egbaland, Chief Abayomi Rotimi, declared at a press conference at the Ile Ogboni of Kemta that Adeola remained a son of the community.
“Yayi is one of us. He is our son. We have different political parties here. We have PDP, APC, Accord and others. Whoever is our son is our son, and whoever comes here for us to help, we accept him,” Rotimi said, according to reports.
He also cautioned against allowing political differences to interfere with the affairs of the traditional institution and dismissed reports that the Ile Ogboni of Kemta had been shut because of Adeola’s relationship with the community.
