OGUN INDIGENESHIP ROW: ADEBUTU DARES YAYI TO TAKE CASE TO COURT
Read Time:3 Minute, 13 Second
By;Aminat Tajudeen
The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has challenged his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to take him to court over claims concerning Adeola’s ancestry.
Adebutu made the challenge on Wednesday during a PDP campaign rally in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state.
Adeola had earlier threatened legal action against PDP chieftain Folake Marcus-Bello and suspended APC member Abayomi Hunye over allegations that he is an indigene of Ekiti State. He gave the duo 24 hours to provide evidence backing their claims or face legal action, describing the allegations as false and libellous.
Speaking at the rally, Adebutu affirmed his own Ogun State roots, saying his mother hails from Odogbolu while his late father, Sir Kensington Adebutu, was from Iperu.
“I am a bona fide indigene of Ogun State. My mother is from here in Odogbolu, and my father, Sir Kensington Adebutu, is from Iperu, so there is no controversy about where I came from,” he said.
Adebutu said he was prepared to face Adeola in court and claimed to possess documents that could support his position on the matter.
He said, “It is, however, sad that the APC governorship candidate, Sen Adeola, commonly called Yayi, is threatening to sue people because they said that he is from Ekiti State.
“Did he think that these people were talking about what is not real? I am daring their lawyers to sue me. I am waiting for their lawyer to also sue me so that we can go and present all our documents in the court of law.
“They first claimed that they are from Joga; later they said Ishaga, Ilaro and all that. I am waiting for their lawyer to write to me so that we can show the whole world the truth.”
Adebutu also accused the APC-led state government of frustrating the PDP’s campaign activities by allegedly preventing the party from erecting billboards and removing or defacing some of its posters.
He claimed that the PDP had initially planned to hold its campaign in Idowa but was forced to relocate the event to Odogbolu.
The PDP candidate said the alleged restrictions would not stop the party from campaigning across the state.
He also alleged that his campaign convoy came under gunfire in Ososa.
However, the APC disputed the PDP’s account of the incident, alleging that the shooting involved security personnel attached to Adebutu.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Femi Nuberu, the APC called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to investigate the incident.
The party described the alleged discharge of ammunition as a matter of concern and urged Adebutu and his campaign team to exercise restraint to prevent fear, intimidation or disorder.
The APC also called on residents to remain calm and urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct their activities within the law.
At the rally, Adebutu criticised the APC-led administration in the state and said a PDP government would prioritise local government autonomy, payment of pensioners’ gratuities and access to workers’ cooperative savings.
The PDP deputy governorship candidate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, also called on residents to support the party in the 2027 governorship election.
Former Remo North Local Government chairman and former state ALGON chairman, John Obafemi, who recently defected from the APC to the PDP, equally urged voters to back Adebutu.
Marcus-Bello, who attended the rally, maintained her position regarding Adeola’s ancestry and said she would release further information in the coming weeks.
Efforts to obtain Adeola’s reaction to Adebutu’s latest comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his media aide, Kayode Odunaro, did not connect, while he had not responded to enquiries sent via WhatsApp as of the time of filing the report.
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