Ogun West group, Yayi’s aide clash over senator’s indigeneship status ahead of 2027

A fierce dispute has erupted over the indigeneship of Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Ogun West Senatorial District in Nigeria, casting a shadow over his potential 2027 governorship bid. The Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders, a socio-political group, insists Adeola is not a native of the district, directly challenging his ambition to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun.

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We are here to rewrite our story because, over time, we’ve heard people around calling us bastards because some of us do not support the aspiration of Senator Olamilekan Yayi, who happens to be contesting for Ogun State Governor. Yes, we do not support him for a very clear reason.

The group, speaking at a forum in Ilaro, vehemently rejected Adeola's governorship aspirations. They questioned his local roots and accused him of actively opposing Ogun West's chances in previous elections. Specifically, they cited his alleged lack of support for Adekunle Akinlade in the 2019 governorship election and Biyi Otegbeye in 2023, both of whom represented the region's interests.

In contrast, the stakeholders declared their support for Oladipupo Adebutu, whom they described as a true indigene with a deep understanding of Ogun State. They believe Adebutu possesses the capacity to develop the state and address the perceived neglect of the Ogun West region by past administrations.

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As a person, I challenge those people supporting him and those people calling us bastards. In 2011, when the late Olurin was contesting for the governorship in Ogun State, we did not see Senator Olamilekan Yayi around. He was never in our history, nor in our story.

Mr. Adetunji Adedeji, speaking for the group, labeled Adeola's ambition as "daylight robbery" against the people of Yewa. He recounted Adeola's absence during past gubernatorial contests involving local candidates, questioning his historical ties to the region. The group also accused Adeola of working against Ogun West's political advancement for personal gain, particularly in the 2023 election, allegedly to further his own ambitions.

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The same thing repeated itself in 2023 when we had something unprecedented in the political history of Ogun.