The Ogun State governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Akinbola Rotham, has explained his decision to withdraw a suit challenging the eligibility of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to contest the 2027 governorship election.

Rotham said the decision to withdraw Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026, which challenged Adeola’s claim to Ogun State indigeneship, was taken in the interest of the Ogun West agenda and the broader development of the state.

Addressing journalists in Abeokuta on Friday, Rotham said the aspiration of Ogun West to produce a governor after decades of waiting was more important than individual political ambitions.

He said both he and Adeola were from Ogun West and would contest the 2027 governorship election, adding that political competition should not undermine the collective interests of the senatorial district.

Rotham said democracy should move beyond controversies over where a candidate was born, where the candidate’s parents originated from or questions of indigeneship being used as political weapons.

He argued that governance should instead focus on competence, capacity, character, accountability and the ability to deliver good governance.

The NNPP candidate said he reached the decision after reflecting on whether continuing the case would advance the interests of Ogun West or contribute positively to democratic development.

Rotham described Adeola as his brother and said their political contest should remain healthy and constructive despite their differences.

He also said the decision was consistent with what he described as the NNPP’s approach to opposition politics, arguing that political parties should engage constructively when such cooperation could advance the interests of citizens.

Rotham said Adeola’s association with the political family of President Bola Tinubu was another reason he did not want the legal dispute to become a source of unnecessary political distraction in Ogun State.

He, however, stressed that his withdrawal of the suit was not induced by money, financial gratification, political settlement or any personal inducement.

Rotham said he and Adeola had not personally met before the legal dispute, insisting that his decision was based on his conviction that the collective interests of Ogun West and Ogun State should take precedence over individual ambitions.

He extended a “hand of brotherhood, friendship and constructive engagement” to Adeola, while maintaining that he remained committed to contesting the 2027 governorship election and contributing to the development of Ogun State.

Rotham said the matter should be viewed as one concerning the collective destiny of Ogun West rather than the ambitions of individual contestants, and expressed readiness to engage with Adeola and other stakeholders on issues affecting the state.