The controversy over who will succeed Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun in 2027 has taken a fresh turn, with a former Nigerian ambassador, Folake Marcus-Bello, challenging the ancestry of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
Marcus-Bello, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, alleged that Adeola was not originally from Yewa and challenged him to a public debate where she said she would present documents to support her claim.
The former diplomat made the allegation during a live television programme while discussing the emerging political battle ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state.
Marcus-Bello said the issue of ancestry was important because the Yewa people, who she noted had yet to produce a governor, deserved the opportunity to occupy the Government House through a genuine indigene.
She said, “Senator Olamilekan is not from Yewa. He is not from Yewa. It saddens me as a mother, as a politician, as a Nigerian that people will come out and tell blatant lies because they want a particular thing.”
She added that she would support a credible Yewa candidate, including the Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant, Ladi Adebutu, if the person could establish genuine Yewa roots.
Marcus-Bello subsequently challenged Adeola to meet her publicly, claiming she possessed documentary evidence relating to his family history.
She cited what she described as the programme of events for Adeola’s father’s burial in Ekiti State, saying it contained his father’s Oriki and details of his lineage.
“Let him come and sit in front of me. We would bring the documentation that I have — the programme of events of his father’s burial in Ekiti State with his Oriki and his progeny,” she said.
The former ambassador also argued that Adeola’s political career was largely established in Lagos before he later sought political relevance in Ogun West. She further referred to his family background and his mother’s burial in Epe in support of her position.
However, the ancestry claims made by Marcus-Bello during the programme have not been independently verified.
The former commissioner also described Ogun politics as one in which indigene status remains significant, arguing that the governorship should not be treated as an “all-comers” contest.
According to her, Ogun State has a peculiar political structure and residents should not be allowed to make unsubstantiated claims about their origins for political advantage.
Marcus-Bello also criticised the APC over what she described as abuse of political power and referred to a book containing allegations against Adeola, challenging his camp to respond to the issues raised.
With the 2027 election drawing closer, questions over political zoning, indigene status and the Yewa agenda are increasingly featuring in the battle for Ogun State’s top political seat.