By Mikail Mumuni
*Akinbola Hammed Rotham.
The Ogun State governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2027 election, Comrade Akinbola Hammed Rotham, has withdrawn a suit challenging the eligibility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
Rotham said his decision to discontinue Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026, filed at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, was taken in what he described as the “best interest of the Ogun West agenda and the future of Ogun State.”
In a statement issued on Friday, Rotham said he and Adeola were both sons of Ogun West and contenders in the 2027 governorship election, stressing that the collective aspiration of the senatorial district to produce a governor after decades of waiting should take precedence over individual political ambitions.
According to him, the decision followed deep reflection on the implications of continuing with the legal action, particularly against the backdrop of the long-standing agitation for power to shift to Ogun West.
“Senator Yayi and I are both sons of Ogun West and contestants in the 2027 Ogun State governorship election. I strongly believe that the collective aspiration of Ogun West to produce a governor of Ogun State, after 50 years of waiting, is greater than any individual ambition,” he said.
Rotham maintained that the Ogun West agenda must come before personal political interests, adding that political competition should not be allowed to undermine the unity required to advance the interests of the people of the senatorial district.
He also called for a more mature approach to democratic politics, particularly with regard to controversies surrounding indigeneship and the backgrounds of political candidates.
The NNPP candidate argued that developmental democracy should place greater emphasis on competence, capacity, character, accountability and the ability to deliver good governance rather than allowing questions about where a candidate was born or the origins of his parents to become instruments of political division.
“I also believe that our democracy must mature beyond unnecessary sentiments and controversies over where an individual was born, where his parents came from, or questions of indigeneship being used as political weapons,” he said.
Rotham said he eventually concluded that continuing the suit would not necessarily advance the broader interests of Ogun West or contribute positively to the state’s democratic development.
“I therefore decided to halt the process in the interest of peace, unity and developmental democracy,” he stated.
Describing Adeola as his brother and fellow Ogun West indigene, Rotham said their participation in the 2027 governorship contest should be based on healthy and constructive competition.
“Senator Yayi is my brother. We come from the same senatorial district, Ogun West, and we are colleagues in the 2027 governorship contest. Our competition should therefore be healthy and constructive, not one that destroys the very unity we need to advance the interests of our people,” he said.
NNPP, APC Are Sister Parties
Rotham further linked his decision to what he described as the philosophy of the NNPP, saying opposition parties should not be regarded as enemies.
He said political parties should be viewed as “sister political parties,” adding that opposition politics should involve constructive engagement whenever cooperation could advance the interests of citizens.
“As an opposition party, our responsibility is not simply to oppose for the sake of opposition, but to engage constructively whenever such cooperation can advance the interests of our people and our country,” he said.
He also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership and founding vision of the NNPP under Dr. Boniface Aniebonam Okechukwu.
Rotham explained that because Adeola belongs to the political family of President Tinubu, he did not want political distractions from the NNPP to undermine what he described as the broader interests of Ogun State and Ogun West.
*Denies Financial or Political Settlement*
The NNPP candidate, however, made it clear that his withdrawal was not the result of any financial inducement, political settlement or personal benefit.
He specifically denied receiving money or any form of gratification from Adeola or his associates in connection with the withdrawal.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that my withdrawal was not induced by money, financial gratification, political settlement or any personal inducement whatsoever,” Rotham said.
He added that he and Adeola had never met personally before the legal matter, insisting that his decision was based entirely on his principles and his assessment of what he considered to be the collective interest of Ogun West and Ogun State.
Rotham said he remained committed to contesting the 2027 governorship election and pursuing his vision of a better Ogun State.
He also extended what he described as a hand of “brotherhood, friendship and constructive engagement” to Adeola, while calling for a peaceful and issue-based campaign.
“Let us compete fairly. Let us respect one another. Let us put Ogun State first,” he said.
Rotham said the decision should not be interpreted as an abandonment of his political ambition, but rather as a deliberate choice to prioritise the larger interests of the people he seeks to represent.
“This is not about one man. It is about our people.
“It is not about personal ambition. It is about collective destiny.
“It is not about division. It is about unity and progress,” he stated.
He expressed readiness to meet Adeola, engage with him as a brother and fellow contestant, and work with other stakeholders committed to the development of Ogun State.
Rotham concluded by expressing optimism about the prospects of Ogun West and Ogun State, saying, “I believe that the time has come for Ogun West to get it right.”
Read the full statement below:
WHY I WITHDREW SUIT NO. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026 AGAINST SENATOR YAYI
By Comrade Akinbola Hammed Rotham
NNPP Ogun State Governorship Candidate, 2027
My decision to withdraw Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026, which challenged the eligibility of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, was taken strictly in the best interest of the Ogun West agenda and the future of Ogun State.
Senator Yayi and I are both sons of Ogun West and contestants in the 2027 Ogun State governorship election. I strongly believe that the collective aspiration of Ogun West to produce a governor of Ogun State, after 50 years of waiting, is greater than any individual ambition.For me, the Ogun West agenda must come before personal political interests.
I also believe that our democracy must mature beyond unnecessary sentiments and controversies over where an individual was born, where his parents came from, or questions of indigeneship being used as political weapons. Developmental democracy should focus on competence, capacity, character, accountability and the ability to deliver good governance, rather than divisive sentiments.
Having reflected deeply on the matter, I concluded that continuing Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026 would not necessarily serve the larger interest of Ogun West or contribute positively to the development of our democratic culture. I therefore decided to halt the process in the interest of peace, unity and developmental democracy.
Senator Yayi is my brother. We come from the same senatorial district, Ogun West, and we are colleagues in the 2027 governorship contest. Our competition should therefore be healthy and constructive, not one that destroys the very unity we need to advance the interests of our people.
My decision is also consistent with the philosophy of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Other political parties are not our enemies; they are sister political parties. As an opposition party, our responsibility is not simply to oppose for the sake of opposition, but to engage constructively whenever such cooperation can advance the interests of our people and our country.
I also acknowledge and respect the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the leadership and founding vision of our great party under Dr. Boniface Aniebonam Okechukwu.
Since Senator Yayi belongs to the political family of Mr. President, I do not want unnecessary political distractions to come from us in the NNPP, particularly when such distractions could undermine the broader interest of Ogun State and Ogun West.
Therefore, as the NNPP Ogun State Governorship Candidate, I extend my hand of brotherhood, friendship and constructive engagement to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi.Let us compete fairly. Let us respect one another. Let us put Ogun State first.
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.
I remain committed to the 2027 governorship contest and to the aspiration of building a better Ogun State.I believe that the time has come for Ogun West to get it right.
This is not about one man. It is about our people.
It is not about personal ambition. It is about collective destiny.
It is not about division. It is about unity and progress.
I look forward to meeting Senator Yayi, engaging with him as a brother and fellow contestant, and working with all stakeholders who genuinely desire a better Ogun State.
God bless Ogun West.
God bless Ogun State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Comrade Akinbola Hammed Rotham
NNPP Ogun State Governorship Candidate, 2027.