The governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Abayomi Hunye, has welcomed the threat of a lawsuit by the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, over an allegation that he is not from Ogun State but an indigene of Ekiti State.
Hunye, in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Femi Oyewale, said he was ready to prove the allegation before a competent court of law, describing Adeola’s move as a “political jamboree” designed to create noise in the public.
He said the lawmaker’s resort to a 24-hour ultimatum and threats of legal action was nothing more than a familiar diversionary tactic and media gimmick designed to bully dissenting voices and evade public accountability regarding his identity and eligibility to govern Ogun State.
The statement reads: “For far too long, the political space in Ogun West has been subjected to intimidation, high-handedness, and the suppression of truth through media propaganda and sponsored brickbats. Senator Adeola’s resort to a 24-hour ultimatum and threats of legal action is nothing more than a familiar diversionary tactic, a media gimmick designed to bully dissenting voices and evade public accountability regarding his true identity and eligibility to govern Ogun State.
“The issue of a candidate’s origin and eligibility is a matter of constitutional concern, not a private affair. It touches on the integrity of our democratic institutions and the aspirations of the good people of Ogun State, who deserve a leader whose roots and allegiance are indisputably local.
“We wish to remind the Senator and his media handlers that truth is an absolute defence against libel. Rather than engaging in empty threats and grandstanding on national television, Senator Adeola should save his energy and approach the court immediately.
“We assure the public that we will not be cowed by intimidation or legal blackmail. In court, we will present robust, verifiable facts and documentary evidence substantiating our claims regarding his alleged Ekiti ancestry. The courtroom is where evidence is tested, not the pages of newspapers or sponsored broadcast interviews.
“We urge the good people of Ogun State, particularly the resilient citizens of Ogun West, to remain calm and steadfast. The era of hoodwinking the electorate with superficial political gimmicks is over.
“We are prepared to strip bare all falsehoods in the open court of law, where facts, not political titles, will speak.”
