The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has dismissed ongoing claims that he hails from Ekiti State, describing his political detractors as “jesters” attempting to derail his gubernatorial campaign.
​Addressing journalists and party faithful during a political engagement, Adeola affirmed his ancestry as a bona fide indigene of Ogun State, stressing that both of his parents originated from the state.
​Adeola firmly refuted rumors questioning his state of origin, which have resurfaced ahead of the 2027 Ogun State gubernatorial election.
​”My father is from Ogun State, my mother is from Ogun State. I am from Ogun State. Those who claim I am from Ekiti are jesters,” Adeola declared.
​He further dispelled claims that his late father was buried in Ekiti State, clarifying that his father was laid to rest at his property located on Ogunsola Street in Alaguntan, within the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
​Addressing his political journey, Adeola recounted his transition from Lagos State politics, where he previously served in the Lagos State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives, and as Senator representing Lagos West, before returning to Ogun State, where he was elected Senator for Ogun West in 2023.
He noted that his initial effort to return to contest in Ogun State years ago was met with resistance, forcing him to continue his service in Lagos before eventually returning home.
​The statement follows a pre-action notice issued through the Senator’s Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, threatening legal action against political actors spreading false narratives regarding his lineage.
​According to Odunaro, critics alleging that Adeola hails from Ekiti failed to produce any evidence when challenged publicly. Adeola noted that while one critic went blank when asked on live television to name the specific location in Ekiti State he allegedly hailed from, another made unfounded assertions about his parents’ burial sites.
​Adeola warned that he would not hesitate to initiate lawsuits if those behind the claims failed to substantiate their assertions within 24 hours. Clarifying his governance philosophy, Adeola emphasised that continuity under his administration would not mean blind adherence to existing policies.
​”ITESIWAJU doesn’t mean that I want to take everything that this administration is doing,” he explained. “Rather, areas that I need to continue, I will continue; areas I need to improve upon, I will improve upon; and areas I need to change, I will change completely.”
​Adeola also highlighted the historical context of his candidacy, noting that the Ogun West Senatorial District has never produced a governor since the creation of Ogun State 50 years ago. He called on the electorate across all zones of the state to support his bid to bring administrative experience and reposition Ogun State for sustained prosperity.
