Opposition parties in Ogun State have denied reports that a legal battle challenging the eligibility of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has been withdrawn. The denial comes after Akinbola Rotham, the Ogun State governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, decided to withdraw a separate suit challenging Adeola’s eligibility to contest the 2027 governorship election.
The plaintiffs in the pending suits, Architect Akerele John and Hon. Adeyemi Oluwaseyifunmi, issued a joint statement clarifying that 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.
According to the plaintiffs, 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 suits were primarily filed by Akerele and others, with the defendants and respondents including Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, the Independent National Electoral Commission, Adeola, the APC, and the Inspector-General of Police, among others.
The plaintiffs’ 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. They called on all stakeholders to allow the judicial process to run its course and respect the authority of the court.
Akinbola 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.
Rotham described Adeola as his brother and fellow Ogun West contestant, saying political competition should not 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.
Meanwhile, Adeola has expressed confidence ahead of the 2027 election, declaring that the APC would face no serious opposition in the governorship election. He described opposition parties in the state as “partyless” and 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.
Key points
- Opposition parties in Ogun State reject claims that a suit challenging the eligibility of APC governorship candidate Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola has been withdrawn.
- Akinbola Rotham, NNPP candidate, withdraws separate suit challenging Adeola’s eligibility to contest the 2027 governorship election.
- Adeola expresses confidence that APC will win 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.
