The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims by the Ladi Adebutu Democratic Organisation (LADO) challenging the indigeneship of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, in Ogun State.
PrimeTimes Nigeria understands that the spokesperson of LADO, Afolabi Orekoya, had questioned Yayi’s origin during a radio programme on a private FM station in Ilese-Ijebu on Wednesday.
However, speaking via a statement issued on Thursday by the Ogun APC Publicity Secretary, Nuberu Olufemi, the party stated that the claim was not only reckless and mischievous, but contrary to both facts and constitutional provisions.
The party opined that the claim that Adeola is a stranger in the state is not only reckless and mischievous, but contrary to both facts and constitutional provisions.
Orekoya insisted that the 2027 election should not be handed to “a stranger” allegedly unfamiliar with the state’s political and social history.
Olufemi asserted that the party said the attempt amounts to desperate political propaganda aimed at distracting Ogun people from the glaring crisis and disintegration within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The statement wondered how a politician with maternal and paternal roots in Abeokuta and Yewaland, respectively, and who is currently representing the good people of Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, could be described as a non-indigene in Ogun State.
According to the APC, the allegation clearly contradicts the provisions of the Nigerian constitution on citizenship and eligibility to contest elections.
The party urged the PDP and its affiliates to focus on resolving their deepening internal crisis instead of resorting to attacks on political opponents.
It noted that the crisis rocking the PDP in Ogun State had become so severe that several key stakeholders had abandoned the party for the APC, including the erstwhile PDP State Chairman, Sikirulai Ogundele, as well as members of the PDP caucus in the Ogun State House of Assembly.
The APC described the PDP as a sinking and crisis-ridden party whose members were daily losing confidence in its leadership and direction.
The statement read in part: “Nigerians are well aware of the fact that the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, is facing a Federal Government court case linked to alleged vote-buying and money laundering during the 2023 Ogun State governorship election.
“We wait to see how such a candidate, whom the people of Ogun State are keeping at arm’s length because of his poor record, hopes to derive political capital from false, jejune, and illogical statements targeted at Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola and his candidature.”
The statement maintained that Senator Solomon Adeola remains the governorship candidate to beat ahead of the 2027 election, citing his economic blueprint, grassroots engagements across the state, and extensive constituency projects.