Opposition parties in Ogun State have rejected claims that the legal battle challenging the eligibility of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has been withdrawn.
The clarification followed the decision by the Ogun State governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Akinbola Rotham, to withdraw a separate suit challenging Adeola’s eligibility to contest the 2027 governorship election.
In a statement jointly signed by co-plaintiffs in the pending suits, Architect Akerele John and Hon. Adeyemi Oluwaseyifunmi, the plaintiffs said the legal action against Adeola had not been discontinued.
They identified the suits as FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2026 and FHC/ABJ/CS/884/2026, both pending before the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the legal action has not been withdrawn and remains a matter before the competent court,” the plaintiffs stated.
They said the issues raised in the suits had not been judicially determined and urged political actors, media organisations and members of the public not to portray the matter as though the court had reached a final decision.
The plaintiffs said the suits were primarily filed by Akerele and others, with the defendants and respondents including Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), the Independent National Electoral Commission, Adeola, the APC, the Chairman of Guardian Newspapers Limited and the Inspector-General of Police, among others.
They added that the application before the court was a Motion on Notice brought pursuant to Order 19 Rules 3 and 8 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, the inherent jurisdiction of the court and Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution on fair hearing.
The plaintiffs called on all stakeholders to allow the judicial process to run its course and respect the authority of the court.
Meanwhile, Rotham explained that his decision to withdraw Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026 was taken in the interest of the Ogun West agenda and the broader development of the state.
The NNPP candidate said the suit had challenged Adeola’s indigeneship of Ogun State, amid controversy over the APC candidate’s claim to hail from Pahayi, Ilaro, in Yewa South Local Government Area.
Speaking to journalists in Abeokuta on Friday, Rotham said the aspiration of Ogun West to produce a governor after decades of waiting was more important to him than his individual political ambition.
“My decision to withdraw Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026, challenging the eligibility of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, was taken strictly in the best interest of the Ogun West agenda and the future of Ogun State,” he said.
Rotham, who described Adeola as his brother and fellow Ogun West contestant, said political competition should not be allowed to undermine the unity required to advance the interests of the senatorial district.
He argued that governance should be based on competence, capacity, character and accountability rather than controversies over birth, parentage or indigeneship.
According to him, continuing with the case would not necessarily advance the interests of Ogun West or contribute positively to democratic development.
“Senator Yayi is my brother. We come from the same senatorial district, Ogun West, and we are colleagues in the 2027 governorship contest. Our competition should therefore be healthy and constructive, not one that destroys the very unity we need to advance the interest of our people,” he said.
Rotham also said the NNPP believed opposition parties should engage constructively where such cooperation could benefit the people.
His decision came against the backdrop of Adeola’s growing confidence ahead of the 2027 election.
Speaking at an APC Interfaith Prayer and Praise Concert at Ake Palace Ground, Abeokuta, Adeola declared that the party would face no serious opposition in the governorship election, describing opposition parties in the state as “partyless”.
He said the opposition was struggling to resolve internal challenges and expressed confidence that the APC would win the presidential election on January 16, 2027, as well as the governorship and National Assembly elections in Ogun.
“There will be nobody, because they are all partyless. They are running helter-skelter to rectify their shortcomings, but God has spoken that He is going to give us victory without a fight,” Adeola said.
