Indigeneity: ‘No Law Says He Cannot Contest’, Lawyer Defends Yayi’s Ogun Governorship Candidacy
Professor of Law, Yemi Oke, has defended the governorship candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Ogun State, Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, dismissing arguments questioning his eligibility on the basis of indigeneity.
Oke pointed out that there was no law preventing Adeola from contesting the Ogun State governorship election, arguing that political opponents were raising the issue because of the candidate’s popularity and growing acceptance among voters.
He stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Oke noted that questions surrounding Adeola’s origin were not new and had been used as a political tool against candidates in previous elections.
“It’s not a new thing,” he said, adding that similar arguments had been made against other politicians in the past.
Oke maintained that the relevant consideration should be whether the law expressly disqualifies a candidate from contesting, rather than relying on arguments about where the person originated from.
“No law says he cannot contest,” the lawyer said, stressing that even where questions about a candidate’s background exist, such issues must be considered within the framework of the law.
He reiterated that Adeola’s popularity had made some of his political opponents uncomfortable, alleging that they were resorting to such arguments because they were uncertain about their chances at the polls.
“They know they cannot win the election,” Oke asserted, while insisting that his position was based on the political realities surrounding the contest and not an attempt to attack individuals.
The law professor also dismissed claims that inconsistencies in documents submitted by Adeola at different times automatically constituted grounds for disqualification.
He argued that differences between documents do not, in themselves, amount to a contradiction sufficient to disqualify a candidate.
Oke urged Nigerians to focus on the legal and substantive issues surrounding the election rather than personalities, saying political contests should ultimately be determined by the electorate and the applicable laws.
He also expressed confidence in Adeola’s political standing in Ogun State, describing him as a popular candidate with significant support in the state.
