Lauretta Fagbohun,
Abeokuta.
The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, Comrade Akinbola Rotham, has withdrawn the suit challenging the eligibility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to contest the 2027 governorship election.
Rotham announced the withdrawal on Friday during a press conference, disclosing that the suit, marked FHC/AB/CS/135/2026 and filed before the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, had been discontinued.
He explained that the decision was taken in the overall interest of Ogun West and its decades-long aspiration to produce the next governor of Ogun State.
According to Rotham, both he and Adeola are sons of Ogun West and fellow contenders in the 2027 governorship race, stressing that the collective interest of the senatorial district should take precedence over individual political ambitions.
He said pursuing the case further would neither advance the interest of Ogun West nor contribute positively to Nigeria’s democratic development.
Rotham argued that political discourse should move beyond sentiments about where candidates were born or the origins of their parents, warning against the use of indigeneship as a political weapon.
He maintained that voters should instead assess candidates based on competence, capacity, character and their ability to provide effective governance.
Describing Adeola as his brother, the NNPP candidate said their political contest should remain healthy and constructive, rather than create divisions capable of undermining the unity needed to advance the interests of Ogun West.
Rotham said his decision was also consistent with the philosophy of the NNPP, which, according to him, considers members of other political parties as members of sister parties rather than enemies.
He added that the decision was partly motivated by his respect for President Bola Tinubu and his desire to prevent unnecessary political distractions, noting that Adeola belongs to the President’s political family.
Rotham, however, dismissed speculation that he withdrew the suit after receiving financial inducement, insisting that his decision was based solely on principle.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that my withdrawal was not induced by money, financial gratification, political settlement or any personal inducement whatsoever. Senator Yayi and I had never met personally before this matter.
“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,” he said.
Despite withdrawing the suit, Rotham stressed that he remains firmly in the 2027 governorship race and remains committed to the aspiration of producing a governor of Ogun State from Ogun West.
