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By Uche Okobi
The 2027 Ogun State governorship contest has taken a fresh legal turn following a suit filed by former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Abayomi Hunye, against the party’s candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
Hunye is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to examine documents submitted by Adeola to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during previous electoral contests, particularly declarations relating to his state of origin.
The suit, according to Hunye’s legal team, seeks to determine whether statements contained in Adeola’s earlier nomination documents are consistent with subsequent declarations and whether any established discrepancies have legal implications.
The development was disclosed by Hunye’s media adviser, Femi Oyewale, after a press briefing by the former aspirant’s legal representatives.
Hunye’s legal adviser, Victor Olamide, said the action was not intended to challenge Adeola’s claim of being a Yewa indigene.
He explained that the central issue before the court was whether there were inconsistencies in sworn electoral documents submitted by Adeola and, if so, what consequences the law provides.
“We are not challenging the indigeneity of Senator Olamilekan Adeola as a Yewa son. What we are bringing before the court is a matter of statutory integrity and constitutional compliance,” Victor said.
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The lawyer said the court would be asked to examine what state of origin Adeola declared in previous INEC forms when he contested elections in Lagos State.
He questioned whether Adeola had declared Lagos or another state in those documents, adding that the relevant records would enable the court to determine the facts.
Victor further alleged that deliberate inconsistencies in documents sworn to under oath could attract legal consequences, depending on the circumstances and applicable law.
However, the historical documents in question were not made available to journalists at the briefing.
The legal team said certified true copies obtained from INEC records would be tendered before the court as evidence.
Hunye said he was not seeking to use the media or public opinion to determine the outcome of the dispute. Rather, he said his objective was for the judiciary to examine the APC nomination process and determine whether it complied with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and other applicable laws.
“I am not asking the media or the public to declare me the candidate. I am asking the judiciary to look at the process, examine the facts under the Electoral Act and allow the law to take its proper course,” Hunye said.
The suit is expected to shift the dispute from political exchanges to judicial proceedings, with the court ultimately determining the relevance and legal effect of the documents and declarations being challenged.
