Abeokuta . –
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, has challenged Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to institute legal action against him over claims regarding the Senator’s state of origin.
Adebutu threw the challenge on Wednesday during a PDP campaign rally in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state.
The development comes after Senator Adeola, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, on Tuesday threatened legal action against PDP chieftain, Folake Marcus-Bello and a suspended APC member, Abayomi Hunye, over claims that he is an indigene of Ekiti State.
Adeola, who currently represents Ogun West Senatorial District, had given the duo a 24-hour ultimatum to provide evidence backing the claims or face legal action, describing the allegation as false, libellous and a calculated attempt to damage his reputation.
Reacting to the threat, Adebutu said he was not intimidated and was ready to meet the Senator in court with documents to support his position.
“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.
“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.
The PDP candidate also used the rally to accuse the APC-led government in the state of stifling opposition campaigns, alleging that the PDP had been prevented from erecting billboards and that some of its posters across the state had been removed or defaced.
According to him, the party had initially planned to hold its campaign in Idowa but was forced to relocate the event to Odogbolu.
He said the alleged restrictions would not deter the party from campaigning across the 20 local government areas of the state.
Adebutu further alleged that his campaign convoy came under gunfire during the tour.
The APC, however, disputed the PDP’s account of the incident. In a statement issued by its state Publicity Secretary, Femi Nuberu, on Thursday, the party called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to investigate the shooting incident.
Nuberu 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.”
The APC urged residents to remain calm and called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct their activities within the confines of the law.
Speaking on his agenda, Adebutu criticised the APC-led administration in the state and promised that a PDP government, if elected in 2027, would prioritise local government autonomy, prompt payment of pensioners’ gratuities and unhindered access to workers’ cooperative savings.
Also speaking, the PDP deputy governorship candidate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, urged residents to vote for the party in the 2027 election, saying the PDP represents a credible alternative.
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 Senator 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.
