Ogun 2027: YPP, BOOT Party Deny Withdrawing Court Case Against Yayi

ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State chairmen of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and BOOT Party have denied withdrawing or authorising the discontinuance of a court case challenging the eligibility and state-of-origin claims surrounding the 2027 governorship candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

The two party chairmen, Hon. Adeyemi Solomon Oluwaseyifunmi of YPP and Arch. Akerele Abiodun John of BOOT Party, said they were neither consulted nor informed before a purported withdrawal of the case was publicly announced.

They made their position known in a joint press conference held on Monday at the NUJ Secretariat, Iwe-Irohin House, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.

Recalled that last week, it was reported in some media that all court cases against the APC Governorship candidate, Adeola Olamilekan Yayi were dropped.

The two party leaders described the impression created by the media publication as misleading, insisting that the legal issues raised against the APC candidate’s candidacy had not been voluntarily abandoned by all the parties involved.

According to them, neither of them authorised anyone to withdraw, compromise or discontinue their legal challenge without their express knowledge and consent.

They particularly alleged that Oluwaseyifunmi was neither contacted nor informed before the purported discontinuance was announced

The politicians maintained that the status of a court proceeding could not be determined by a political statement, stressing that the court record and lawful processes filed before the judiciary should be relied upon.

They also rejected any suggestion that they had become satisfied with Adeola’s candidacy or decided to support him as a result of the alleged discontinuance.

The YPP and BOOT chairmen further urged political actors to allow the judiciary to determine the issues surrounding eligibility, constitutional requirements, state of origin and political participation.

They stressed that their action was not motivated by personal hatred or political vendetta against Adeola, but by what they described as their commitment to the rule of law and constitutional democracy.

The two party leaders also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as leader of the APC, to caution Adeola and individuals they described as being within his circle against what they alleged could amount to political influence, intimidation, misinformation or undue pressure on citizens pursuing their legal rights.

They accused Comrade Abayomi Arabambi and Comrade Awolola Awofala Awoniyi as persons acting in connivance with their legal representatives to misrepresented their position on the court matter.

The politicians also raised concerns over their personal security, alleging that the emergence of unfamiliar persons around them and other developments had created apprehension regarding the safety of individuals connected with the matter.

They consequently called on security agencies to investigate any credible reports of threats, surveillance or intimidation and ensure the protection of citizens irrespective of their political affiliations.

They urged all political actors in the state to ensure that the 2027 electoral contest does not degenerate into violence or intimidation.

The two chairmen said they had already approached relevant security authorities over what they described as alleged attempts to withdraw or compromise the proceedings, as well as concerns over alleged intimidation, threats and surveillance.

They also urged the public, media organisations, political parties and other stakeholders to disregard narratives suggesting that all legal challenges to Adeola’s candidacy had been voluntarily and unanimously abandoned.

“It is therefore unacceptable for anyone to present the matter publicly as though all the Plaintiffs jointly agreed to abandon the case.

“Our political positions and legal decisions remain matters that we will communicate ourselves.

“The proper place to determine the status, validity and effect of any notice of discontinuance is the court, not a political press release.”

The two party leaders reaffirmed their confidence in the judiciary and said their actions were aimed at strengthening democracy and protecting citizens’ constitutional rights.

They called on all political actors in Ogun State to approach the 2027 political process with maturity, restraint and respect for democratic institutions.

They also urged Senator Adeola and the individuals named in the statement to respect the rights of all parties and allow the judicial process to take its lawful course.

They said they remained committed to peace, democracy, justice and the rule of law.