Abayomi Hunye, an APC governorship aspirant in Ogun State, has declared his readiness to face the governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola in court over allegations concerning the Ogun West senator’s ancestral claims.
Hunye said he welcomes the threatened legal action from Senator Adeola and is prepared to defend his position before a competent court.
Hunye’s response followed a statement by Senator Adeola’s Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, who had threatened legal action agaist Hunye and Ambassador Folake Marcus-Bello over claims linking the senator to Ekiti ancestry.
Both Hunye and Marcus-Bello had insisted that Senator Adeola, popularly called Yayi, is from Ekiti State and not from Ogun State.
Reacting in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Media Adviser, Femi Oyewale, Hunye said there was nothing to fear about the proposed lawsuit, insisting that the courtroom remained the proper place to determine issues through evidence rather than public exchanges.
“We want to state categorically that we welcome the threat of a lawsuit with open arms. We are more than ready to meet Senator Adeola in a court of competent jurisdiction,” Hunye said.
He noted that, to the best of his knowledge, issues surrounding the matter were already before the court, describing the latest threat of legal action as unnecessary.
Hunye maintained that questions concerning a political candidate’s origin and eligibility are matters of public and constitutional interest, especially when such a candidate seeks the highest office in the state.
He further stated that he was prepared to present what he described as documentary evidence to support his claims, adding that “truth is an absolute defence against libel.”
“The courtroom is where evidence is tested, not the pages of newspapers or sponsored broadcast interviews,” he said.
Hunye also assured his supporters and residents of Ogun State that he would not be intimidated by legal threats, insisting that the matter should be resolved through due process and judicial determination.
