2027: Why I Withdrew Indigeneship Suit Against Yayi- Ogun NNPP Candidate
The Ogun State governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Akinbola Rotham, has explained his decision to withdraw a suit challenging the eligibility of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to contest the 2027 governorship election.
Rotham said the decision to withdraw Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026, which challenged Adeola’s indigeneship of Ogun State, was taken in the interest of the Ogun West agenda and the broader development of the state.
Adeola’s claim to Ogun State indigeneship has generated controversy, with some politicians questioning his claim to hail from Pahayi, Ilaro, in the Yewa South Local Government Area.
However, addressing journalists on Friday in Abeokuta, Rotham said the aspiration of Ogun West to produce a governor after decades of waiting was more important than individual political ambitions.
“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.
“Senator Yayi and I are both sons of Ogun West and contestants in the 2027 Ogun State governorship election. I strongly believe that the collective aspiration of Ogun West to produce a governor of Ogun State, after 50 years of waiting, is greater than any individual ambition.
“For me, the Ogun West agenda must come before personal political interests. Democracy must mature beyond unnecessary sentiments and controversies over where an individual was born, where his parents came from, or questions of indigeneship being used as political weapons.”
Rotham argued that governance should instead be driven by competence, capacity, character, accountability and the ability to deliver on the expectations of the people.
“Developmental democracy should focus on competence, capacity, character, accountability and the ability to deliver good governance, rather than divisive sentiments,” he said.
The NNPP candidate said after reflecting on the matter, he concluded that continuing with the case would not necessarily advance the interests of Ogun West or contribute positively to democratic development.
Rotham described Adeola as his brother and said their political contest should remain constructive despite their differences.
“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.
He further said his decision was consistent with what he described as the philosophy of the NNPP, arguing that opposition parties should engage constructively when such engagement could advance the interests of the people.
“Other political parties are not our enemies; they are sister political parties. As an opposition party, our responsibility is not simply to oppose for the sake of opposition, but to engage constructively whenever such cooperation can advance the interests of our people and our country,” Rotham said.
Rotham also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the NNPP under Dr Boniface Okechukwu.
He said Adeola’s association with the political family of the President was another reason he did not want the legal dispute to become a source of unnecessary political distraction in Ogun State.
“Since Senator Yayi belongs to the political family of Mr President, I do not want unnecessary political distractions to come from us in the NNPP, particularly when such distractions could undermine the broader interest of Ogun State and Ogun West,” he stated.
The NNPP candidate consequently extended what he described as a “hand of brotherhood, friendship and constructive engagement” to Adeola.
Rotham, however, stressed that his withdrawal of the suit was not the result of any financial inducement or political settlement.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that my withdrawal was not induced by money, financial gratification, political settlement or any personal inducement whatsoever,” he said.
He added that he and Adeola had not met personally before the matter, insisting that his decision was based on his personal conviction that the collective interests of Ogun West and Ogun State should take precedence over individual ambitions.
“My decision was entirely based on principle, reflection and my conviction that the collective interest of Ogun West and Ogun State must come before personal ambition,” he said.
Rotham said he remained committed to the 2027 governorship contest and his ambition to contribute to the development of Ogun State.
He added, “This is not about one man. It is about our people. It is not about personal ambition. It is about collective destiny. It is not about division. It is about unity and progress.”
Rotham said he looked forward to meeting Adeola and engaging with him as a brother and fellow contestant, while also working with other stakeholders committed to the development of the state.
