BEING THE JOINT PRESS STATEMENT BY THE YPP AND BOOT PARTY CHAIRMEN OVER THE WITHDRAWAL OF COURT CASE AGAINST YAYI

OGUN 2027: WE DID NOT WITHDRAW THE COURT CASE — PRESIDENT TINUBU SHOULD CAUTION YAYI AND HIS COHORT AGAINST MISREPRESENTATION, INTIMIDATION AND UNDUE PRESSURE

Read by:

Hon. Adeyemi Solomon Oluwaseyifunmi
State Chairman, Young Progressives Party (YPP), Ogun State

And

Arch. Akerele Abiodun John
State Chairman, BOOT Party, Ogun State

9th September, 2026

Gentlemen of the Press, distinguished members of the public, ladies and gentlemen.

We have invited you today to address recent claims being circulated concerning the alleged withdrawal and discontinuance of court cases challenging the eligibility and state-of-origin issues surrounding the governorship candidacy of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as YAYI, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State.

We are particularly concerned by the press release issued on 9th September 2026 by the Media Adviser to Senator Adeola, Chief Kayode Odunaro, titled:

“OGUN 2027: MAJOR COURT CASES AGAINST SEN. ADEOLA YAYI CANDIDACY DROPPED.”

We wish to state categorically that the impression created by that publication is misleading and does not represent the position of all the parties whose names and interests are connected to the proceedings.

1. THE CASE WAS NOT WITHDRAWN WITH OUR KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT

For the avoidance of doubt, neither of us — Arch. Akerele Abiodun John nor Hon. Adeyemi Solomon Oluwaseyifunmi — authorised any person to withdraw, compromise or discontinue our legal challenge without our express knowledge and consent.

In particular, Hon. Adeyemi Solomon Oluwaseyifunmi was neither contacted nor informed before the purported discontinuance referred to in the said publication.

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

Where a legal proceeding involves several Plaintiffs, the public deserves to know who took what step, under whose authority and in what circumstances. We will not allow our names, positions and legitimate interests to be used to create the impression that we voluntarily abandoned our legal rights when, in fact, we were not consulted or informed.

2. WE REJECT ANY ATTEMPT TO MISREPRESENT THE JUDICIAL PROCESS

We are law-abiding citizens and political actors. We believe firmly in the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

Our position is not based on personal hatred or political vendetta against Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.

Our concern is that questions surrounding eligibility, constitutional requirements, state of origin and political participation should be subjected to the appropriate judicial and constitutional processes.

We therefore reject any attempt to give the public the impression that the issues raised before the courts have simply disappeared because certain individuals may have taken steps which were not authorised by all parties involved.

A political press statement cannot determine the status of a court case. The court record and lawful processes filed before the court are what should speak.

3. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORISED ANYONE TO SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF

We also wish to make it clear that neither of us authorised Senator Adeola's media team, nor any other individual, to speak on our behalf or represent our position concerning the court proceedings.

Any statement suggesting that we have become satisfied with the candidacy of Senator Adeola, abandoned our concerns, or decided to support his candidacy as a result of the alleged discontinuance is false and is hereby rejected.

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

4. YAYI AND HIS COHORT MUST BE CAUTIONED

When we refer to “YAYI and his cohort” in this statement, we are specifically referring to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as YAYI, and Comrade Abayomi Arabambi and Comrade Awolola Awofala Awoniyi, whom we identify as acting within the circle of persons associated with the issues presently before the public.

We therefore respectfully call on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the leader of the APC and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to caution Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as YAYI, and his said cohort against any attempt to use political influence, intimidation, misinformation or undue pressure to interfere with the lawful rights of citizens and political actors.

Nigeria is a constitutional democracy.

No political office seeker, regardless of his political connections or influence, should create an atmosphere in which citizens feel threatened, harassed or pressured simply because they have chosen to exercise their constitutional and legal rights.

We equally call on YAYI, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi and Comrade Awolola Awofala Awoniyi, as well as all persons associated with this matter, to refrain from any action capable of threatening, intimidating, harassing or compromising the safety of anyone connected with the proceedings.

5. CONCERNS OVER INTIMIDATION AND SECURITY

We are particularly concerned about reports and circumstances which, in our view, have created apprehension regarding the safety of persons connected with this matter.

The emergence of unfamiliar persons around us and other developments have raised legitimate security concerns.

We do not want the political contest ahead of the 2027 election to degenerate into threats, intimidation or violence.

Senator YAYI's political ambition must not be pursued at the expense of the peace, security or lives of Ogun State citizens. No political ambition is worth a drop of blood.

We therefore call on the appropriate security agencies to remain vigilant, investigate any credible allegations of threats, surveillance or intimidation, and ensure that every citizen is protected regardless of political affiliation.

6. OUR POSITION REMAINS CLEAR

Let it be clearly understood:

- We have not withdrawn our concerns.

- We have not authorised anyone to compromise our interests.

- Hon. Adeyemi Solomon Oluwaseyifunmi was not contacted or informed of the purported withdrawal before it was publicly announced.

- Neither of us authorised anyone to present to the public that we had voluntarily abandoned our position.

- We have not authorised Senator Adeola's media team or any other person to speak on our behalf concerning this matter.

We have already brought our concerns before the appropriate security authorities and requested investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempt to withdraw or compromise the proceedings, as well as concerns regarding alleged intimidation, threats and surveillance.

We will continue to pursue every legitimate avenue available to us under Nigerian law.

7. WE URGE THE PUBLIC TO DISREGARD FALSE IMPRESSIONS

We therefore urge members of the public, the media, political parties and all stakeholders to exercise caution and not rely on narratives designed to create the impression that every legal challenge concerning Senator Adeola's candidacy has been voluntarily and unanimously abandoned by all those involved.

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

We have confidence in the Nigerian judiciary and the institutions established by law.

Our actions are intended to strengthen democracy, not weaken it.

We will not be intimidated.

We will not be coerced.

We will not allow our names to be used to endorse a decision we did not authorise.

And we will continue to defend our constitutional rights through peaceful and lawful means.

CONCLUSION

Finally, we appeal to all political actors in Ogun State to conduct the 2027 political process with maturity, restraint and respect for democratic institutions.

Ogun State belongs to all of us.

The 2027 election should be about the people, their aspirations and their right to freely choose their leaders — not about intimidation, manipulation or the suppression of legitimate questions.

We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all relevant authorities to ensure that no citizen or political actor is intimidated, harassed or prevented from pursuing a lawful cause before the courts.

We also call on Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (YAYI), Comrade Abayomi Arabambi and Comrade Awolola Awofala Awoniyi to respect the rights of all parties and allow the judicial process to take its lawful course.

We remain committed to peace, democracy, justice and the rule of law.

Thank you.

Signed:

ARCH. AKERELE ABIODUN JOHN
State Chairman, BOOT Party, Ogun State

HON. ADEYEMI SOLOMON OLUWASEYIFUNMI
State Chairman, Young Progressives Party (YPP), Ogun State