Adebutu dares Yayi to sue over Ogun indigeneship dispute

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has challenged the All Progressives Congress candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to sue him over claims concerning Adeola’s ancestry.

Adebutu spoke on Wednesday during a PDP campaign rally in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state.

Adeola had on Tuesday threatened legal action against Adebutu’s fellow PDP chieftain, Folake Marcus-Bello, and suspended APC member Abayomi Hunye over claims that he is an indigene of Ekiti State.

He gave the two individuals 24 hours to provide evidence supporting the claims or face legal action. Adeola described the allegations as false and libellous.

“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 no controversy about where I came from,” Adebutu said.

Adebutu, however, said he was ready to face the senator in court, claiming he had documents to support his position on the matter.

“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,” he stated.

Adebutu also alleged that the APC-led government had prevented the PDP from erecting campaign billboards and that some of the party’s posters across the state had been removed or defaced.

He claimed that the PDP had planned to hold its campaign in Idowa but was prevented from doing so and moved the event to Odogbolu.

Adebutu said the alleged restrictions would not stop the party from campaigning across the state.

He also alleged that his campaign convoy came under gunfire.

The APC later disputed the PDP’s account of the incident, alleging that the shooting in Ososa involved security personnel attached to Adebutu.

In a statement issued by its state Publicity Secretary, Femi Nuberu, on Thursday, the APC called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to investigate the incident.

He said, “We find it deeply disturbing that security details attached to a candidate seeking to become the governor of Ogun State would reportedly cause apprehension among the populace through the reckless discharge of ammunition.

“The incident, which reportedly took place in Ososa, the hometown of our deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun, is troubling and must not be allowed to escalate.

“It is provocative and capable of creating unnecessary fear and tension among law-abiding citizens. We expect the police investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident and ensure that anyone found to have acted unlawfully is held accountable.

“We call on Hon. Ladi Adebutu and his campaign team to exercise restraint and ensure that their activities do not create fear, intimidation or disorder in any part of Ogun State.”

The APC urged residents to remain calm and called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct their activities within the law.

Adebutu also used the rally to criticise the APC-led administration in the state, while promising that 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, urged residents to vote for the party in the 2027 election.

Former Remo North Local Government chairman and former state ALGON chairman, John Obafemi, who recently defected from the APC to the PDP, also urged voters to support Adebutu.

Marcus-Bello, who was also present at the rally, maintained her position on Adeola’s ancestry and said she would reveal more 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 yet to respond to enquiries sent to his WhatsApp as of the time of filing this report.