A controversy has erupted over the state of origin of Senator Solomon Adeola, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Nigeria. Folake Marcus-Bello, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Zambia and Malawi, has accused Adeola of making conflicting declarations about his origin. Marcus-Bello, who is also the South-West Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleged that Adeola had at different times claimed links to Ekiti, Lagos, and Ogun states.
According to Marcus-Bello, employment records from Adeola's period at The Guardian Newspapers identified Ekiti as his state of origin. She claimed that Adeola subsequently identified with Lagos, where he built his earlier political career, before moving politically to Ogun State. Adeola served in the Lagos State House of Assembly before representing Lagos West in the Senate from 2015 to 2023. He currently represents Ogun West in the Senate and is the APC governorship candidate in Ogun State for the 2027 election.
Marcus-Bello argued that the alleged inconsistencies in Adeola's declarations should be subjected to judicial scrutiny. She alleged that Adeola had made conflicting declarations about his origin, which is a case of perjury. However, she acknowledged that Nigerians were constitutionally free to live and pursue legitimate interests anywhere in the country. Marcus-Bello maintained that the controversy surrounding Adeola's ancestry should be resolved with documentary evidence.
Adeola had earlier given Marcus-Bello and Abayomi Hunye 24 hours to substantiate allegations that he is an indigene of Ekiti State or face legal action. He described their claims as false and libellous. His media adviser, Kayode Odunaro, said the allegations concerning the senator and his family had been made on national television without evidence. Marcus-Bello said she had yet to receive any court papers and insisted she was prepared to defend her allegations.
The controversy has intensified in recent days, with Adeola demanding evidence from Marcus-Bello and Hunye within 24 hours. PDP governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu subsequently joined the controversy, challenging Adeola to sue him as well and claiming he had evidence to support questions raised about the senator's Ogun origin. Marcus-Bello said the courts should ultimately determine the veracity of the competing claims.
Marcus-Bello also levelled allegations of financial impropriety against Adeola, claiming that some federal projects and funds intended for other parts of the country were redirected to Ogun State while he chaired the Senate Committee on Appropriations. She questioned Adeola's source of wealth, alleging that his political spending was not matched by publicly known business interests. The claims were not independently verified.
The ancestry dispute has sparked a heated debate, with Marcus-Bello challenging Adeola to a public debate on the issue. She said she was waiting for the court documents and insisted that she was prepared to defend her allegations. The controversy has raised questions about Adeola's eligibility to contest the Ogun State governorship election in 2027.
Key points
- Marcus-Bello accuses Adeola of making conflicting declarations about his state of origin.
- Adeola faces allegations of perjury over his origin claims.
- The controversy has intensified, with multiple parties demanding evidence and threatening legal action.
