Marcus-Bello says senator not from Yewa, challenges him to a debate

A Suspended All Progressives Congress (APC) member from Tube in Ipokia Local Council of Ogun State, Abayomi Hunye, has welcomed Senator Solomon Adeola‘s threat to take legal action over allegations concerning the senator’s ancestral origin, saying the dispute should be settled in court rather than through public statements.

Adeola, who represents Ogun West Senatorial District in the Senate and a member of the APC, had threatened legal action following claims questioning his alleged Ekiti ancestry and suitability to seek political office in Ogun State.

In a statement signed by Media Adviser, Femi Oyewale, Hunye said he was prepared to defend the allegations in court, arguing that the judicial process was the appropriate forum for determining the facts.

Also, former Nigerian Ambassador to Zambia and Malawi, Folake Marcus-Bello, has reopened the debate on the ancestry of Adeola.

“We welcome the threat of a lawsuit with open arms. We are more than ready to meet Senator Adeola in a court of competent jurisdiction,” the statement said.

Hunye also claimed that the matter was already before a court, describing Adeola’s reported 24-hour ultimatum and threat of litigation as a political and media tactic.

He accused the senator and his supporters of attempting to divert attention from Adeola’s identity and eligibility to govern Ogun State.

The suspended APC member said that questions about a political candidate’s origin and eligibility could have constitutional implications rather than being merely private matters.

He said he would rely on what he described as “robust, verifiable facts and documentary evidence” if the matter came before the court.

“The courtroom is where evidence is tested, not the pages of newspapers or sponsored broadcast interviews,” the statement said.

Hunye further urged residents of Ogun State, particularly those in Ogun West, to remain calm, insisting that he would not be intimidated by threats of legal action.

Marcus-Bello, a former ambassador and Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, while speaking on a live television programme, said there was documentary evidence to prove her point.

She noted that Adeola’s political career began and flourished in Lagos before he “moved his ambition” to Ogun West.

She also referenced his father’s background and the burial of his mother in Epe as evidence that his roots “lie outside Yewa.”

However, these claims were presented as part of her argument during the programme and were not independently verified.

According to the former commissioner, the controversy goes beyond personal politics because indigene status matters for Ogun’s peculiar politics.