The Media Adviser to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, has explained that the senator changed his name from Sulaimon Ogunleye to Solomon Adeola after converting from Islam to Christianity.

Mr Kayode Odunaro, the media aide, gave the explanation while responding to questions about Adeola’s identity and name ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Odunaro said there was nothing unusual about the name change, stressing that Adeola had adopted his current name years before entering politics.

He said the senator was born into a Muslim family and later became a Christian, after which he adopted the name Solomon.

According to him, “Solomon” is the biblical equivalent of “Sulaimon”, while Adeola was chosen as his surname.

Odunaro said Adeola had been known by the name Sulaimon Ogunleye during his earlier years, including his time at The Guardian newspaper.

He argued that people could change their names for personal, religious or other reasons and that the change should not be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing.

The clarification followed recent claims by a former Ijebu East Local Government chairman, Mr Wale Adedayo, who alleged that Adeola was originally known as Sulaimon Ogunleye and was from Ekiti State.

Adeola subsequently demanded that Adedayo and others who made similar claims provide evidence or face legal action.

Odunaro maintained that the senator’s name change was a personal decision connected to his religious conversion and occurred long before his involvement in politics.

Adeola, who represents Ogun West Senatorial District in the Senate, is the APC candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.