…says he’s never met APC candidate physically, insists Ogun West’s interest greater than individual’s political ambition
By Segun Olatunji
Ogun State governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Akinbola Rotham, says his decision to withdraw a suit challenging the eligibility of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to contest the 2027 governorship election, is not the outcome of any financial inducement or political settlement.
Rather, he insisted that his withdrawal of suit No. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026, which challenged Adeola’s indigeneship of Ogun State, was taken in the interest of the Ogun West agenda and the overall development of the state.
Some opposition politicians have been making the Yewa indigeneship of the APC governorship flagbearer, who is also the incumbent Senator representing Ogun West, a campaign issue, questioning his claim to hail from Pahayi, Ilaro, in the Yewa South Local Government Area.
But Rotham, who addressed a press conference on Friday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said the Yewa-Awori and Ogun West’s aspiration to produce a governor after about 50 years of waiting was of more importance than any pecuniary gains and the selfish political ambition of any individual politician.
The NNPP flagbearer stressed that he had never had any physical meeting with Senator Adeola, insisting that his decision to withdraw the suit was based on his personal conviction that the collective interests of Ogun West and Ogun State should be of utmost priority and should take precedence over any personal ambition.
According to him, “I want to make it absolutely clear that my withdrawal was not induced by money, financial gratification, political settlement or any personal inducement whatsoever.
“My decision was entirely based on principle, reflection and my conviction that the collective interest of Ogun West and Ogun State must come before personal ambition.
“My decision to withdraw Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026, challenging the eligibility of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, was taken strictly in the best interest of the Ogun West agenda and the future of Ogun State.
He added, “Senator Yayi and I are both sons of Ogun West and contestants in the 2027 Ogun State governorship election. I strongly believe that the collective aspiration of Ogun West to produce a governor of Ogun State, after 50 years of waiting, is greater than any individual ambition.
“For me, the Ogun West agenda must come before personal political interests. Democracy must mature beyond unnecessary sentiments and controversies over where an individual was born, where his parents came from, or questions of indigeneship being used as political weapons.”
Rotham further explained that governance should be driven by competence, capacity, character, accountability and the ability to deliver on the expectations of the people, rather than petty and frivolous claims and pedestrian political arguments.
“Developmental democracy should focus on competence, capacity, character, accountability and the ability to deliver good governance, rather than divisive sentiments,” he added.
The NNPP governorship flagbearer noted that after a deep reflection on the matter, he came to the conclusion that pursuing the court case further would not necessarily advance the interests of Ogun West or even make any positive impact on the democratic development of the region and the entire state.
He described Senator Adeola Yayi as his brother, stressing that their political contest should remain constructive despite their partisan differences.
“Senator Yayi is my brother. We come from the same senatorial district, Ogun West, and we are colleagues in the 2027 governorship contest. Our competition should therefore be healthy and constructive, not one that destroys the very unity we need to advance the interest of our people,” he said.
Rotham further explained that his decision was consistent with the philosophy of his own political party, the NNPP, emphasising that opposition parties should engage constructively when in a position to advance the interests of the people.
“Other political parties are not our enemies; they are sister political parties. As an opposition party, our responsibility is not simply to oppose for the sake of opposition, but to engage constructively whenever such cooperation can advance the interests of our people and our country,” he said.
He also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of the NNPP, saying Senator Yayi’s association with the political family of President Tinubu was another reason he did not want his court case to constitute unnecessary political distraction in Ogun State.
“Since Senator Yayi belongs to the political family of Mr President, I do not want unnecessary political distractions to come from us in the NNPP, particularly when such distractions could undermine the broader interest of Ogun State and Ogun West,” he added.
Rotham therefore extended what he called a “hand of brotherhood, friendship and constructive engagement” to Senator Adeola.
The NNPP governorship flagbearer expressed further commitment to the 2027 governorship election and his aspiration to contribute his own quota to the development of Ogun State.
“This is not about one man. It is about our people. It is not about personal ambition. It is about collective destiny. It is not about division. It is about unity and progress,” he added.
The NNPP governorship flagbearer added that he looked forward to meeting the APC governorship candidate to engage with him as a brother and fellow contestant, expressing his readiness to work with other stakeholders to ensure the advancement and general development of Ogun State.
