Senator Solomon Adeola, known as Yayi, has given Abayomi Hunye and Folake Marcus-Bello 24 hours to prove claims about his alleged Ekiti origin or face legal action
Yayi Threatens Lawsuit Over Ekiti Origin Claim, Gives 24-Hour Ultimatum
Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has drawn a legal battle line with two politicians over claims concerning his origin, giving them 24 hours to produce evidence backing allegations that he is an indigene of Ekiti State or face legal action.
Adeola, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State for the 2027 election and senator representing Ogun West, issued the ultimatum to Hon. Abayomi Hunye and Ambassador Folake Marcus-Bello following separate television appearances in which they reportedly questioned his Ogun roots.
The controversy has added another dimension to the unfolding political contest ahead of the 2027 Ogun governorship election, with both sides now trading claims over Adeola’s ancestry. Reports by Punch and Vanguard confirmed that Hunye has welcomed the threatened lawsuit and says he is prepared to defend his position in court.
Adeola, reacting to the allegations through a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, said he was particularly disturbed by what he described as unsubstantiated claims about his background.
“I watched in utter disbelief as these characters that I hardly know utter assertive and outrageous lies about my origin without any proof,” he said.
The senator alleged that one of the politicians claimed he was from Ekiti State but could not identify the specific location in the state when asked to do so.
“One falsely claimed on TV that I am from Ekiti and, when asked where exactly in Ekiti, went moronically blank and could not provide an answer,” Adeola said.
He also rejected allegations concerning the burial locations of his parents, describing them as part of what he called an attempt to sustain what he regarded as a false narrative about his ancestry.
“The other one was lying about the locations of the graves of my parents as if she was part of the undertakers at the burial, all in a futile effort to justify an unsustainable falsehood,” he said.
Adeola then issued his ultimatum in unmistakable terms.
“Enough is enough. They should produce their evidence in 24 hours or be ready for my lawsuits,” he declared.
According to Adeola’s camp, questions about his origin are not new, with similar allegations having featured in political arguments surrounding his emergence as senator for Ogun West ahead of the 2023 National Assembly election.
The controversy has resurfaced as Adeola seeks the APC governorship ticket and prepares for the 2027 election, with his camp alleging that the renewed claims are politically motivated.
However, Hunye has rejected the threat as an attempt at intimidation and said he is ready to meet Adeola in court. In a statement issued through his media aide, Femi Oyewale, Hunye maintained that he has documentary evidence to support his position and claimed that a related matter was already before a court.
“We are more than ready to meet Senator Adeola in a court of competent jurisdiction. Interestingly, it seems they are not well informed that the matter is already in court,” Hunye said.
He added, “Threatening us with a lawsuit, therefore, is like a political jamboree designed to make noise in the public.”
Hunye further argued that questions surrounding a political candidate’s origin and eligibility were matters of public interest and constitutional concern.
“The issue of a candidate’s origin and eligibility is a matter of constitutional concern, not a private affair,” he said.
“It touches on the integrity of our democratic institutions and the aspirations of the good people of Ogun State, who deserve a leader whose roots and allegiance are indisputably local.”
Hunye also maintained that he was prepared to present what he described as documentary evidence if the matter reached court.
“The courtroom is where evidence is tested, not the pages of newspapers or sponsored broadcast interviews,” he said.
Marcus-Bello has separately maintained that she possesses documentary material supporting her position concerning Adeola’s ancestry. Vanguard reported that she challenged Adeola to confront her with the documentation, while other reports quoted her as disputing his claim to Yewa ancestry.
Adeola, meanwhile, has insisted that his accusers should substantiate their allegations rather than make them publicly without evidence.
With the 24-hour deadline issued by the senator and Hunye publicly welcoming the prospect of litigation, the dispute over Adeola’s origin has moved beyond political exchanges on television and into the territory of a potential legal battle.
