Abayomi Hunye Sues Yayi: INEC Forms Scrutiny Over Origin Claims

• Abayomi Hunye has filed a lawsuit in Abuja's Federal High Court against Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi), seeking a review of his past INEC nomination forms.
• The suit aims to ascertain the state of origin Adeola declared under oath in previous elections, particularly when he contested in Lagos State.
• Hunye's legal counsel clarified that the challenge focuses on statutory integrity and alleged perjury, not Adeola's indigeneity.
• Hunye participated in the May 21 APC governorship primary, receiving zero votes, and claims to have exhausted internal party dispute mechanisms.
• The case highlights the severe legal implications of inconsistencies in sworn electoral documents and the importance of accuracy for political aspirants.

The case highlights that alleged perjury or deliberate inconsistencies in such sworn documents can lead to severe legal consequences, potentially challenging electoral outcomes even years after the initial submission.

A former governorship aspirant, Abayomi Hunye, has initiated a legal challenge before the Federal High Court in Abuja, targeting Senator Solomon Adeola, widely known as Yayi. The lawsuit seeks a comprehensive examination of all electoral documents previously submitted under oath by Senator Adeola. Specifically, Hunye is requesting the court to mandate a judicial review of the statutory declarations contained within Adeola's past Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms, aiming to ascertain the precise state of origin the lawmaker claimed in earlier elections.

This legal move represents a significant escalation in the ongoing political contest between Hunye and Adeola, particularly concerning the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for the 2027 election in Ogun State. The details of the demand were made public through a formal statement issued in Lagos by Hunye’s media adviser, Femi Oyewole, following a press briefing led by his principal legal counsel, Olamide Victor. This action underscores the growing scrutiny over official electoral submissions, bringing the Abayomi Hunye sues Yayi INEC forms case to the forefront of political discourse.

Olamide Victor, Hunye's lead legal counsel, clarified that the core of the legal challenge is not to dispute Senator Adeola’s indigeneity as a Yewa native. Instead, the focus is squarely on fundamental questions of legal consistency and alleged Nigeria electoral document perjury within public documents sworn to under oath. Victor highlighted that Senator Adeola has served in various public elective offices for over two decades, prompting questions about the state of origin he declared in his previous INEC nomination forms, particularly when he contested elections in Lagos State. The central inquiry revolves around whether he declared Ekiti State or Lagos State as his origin during those periods.

The legal team emphasized that any deliberate INEC nomination form inconsistency in documents submitted under oath carries severe legal implications. While copies of the contested historical forms were not distributed during the press conference, Victor confirmed that certified true copies, obtained from INEC repositories, would be presented as exhibits in court during the trial. This Solomon Adeola state of origin lawsuit aims to establish whether there have been discrepancies in these crucial declarations over time, potentially impacting his eligibility for future office.

This Federal High Court Abuja electoral challenge is the latest development in the contentious Ogun APC governorship primary dispute. Abayomi Hunye participated in the APC governorship primary held on May 21, where Senator Adeola was declared the winner with 304,055 votes out of 305,287 accredited voters, while Hunye was officially credited with zero votes. Hunye disclosed that he pursued all available internal dispute mechanisms, including submitting formal petitions to the APC Governorship Primary Appeal Committee, but received no response, compelling him to seek judicial redress.

Hunye also addressed questions regarding his locus standi, asserting that he is not seeking a judicial shortcut to be declared the party's candidate. Instead, his objective is for the court to determine whether the party’s internal nomination process adhered to electoral laws. He further refuted claims by the Ogun APC State Working Committee that he was suspended from the party on April 7, 2026, following an alleged petition from his ward in Tube, Ipokia Local Government Area. Hunye questioned the party's actions, asking why he was allowed to purchase the N50 million governorship expression of interest and nomination forms on April 28—three weeks after his alleged suspension—if his membership status was indeed invalid. He also dismissed allegations that his lawsuit was financed by the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state, Ladi Adebutu, describing his legal action as an independent quest for justice.

The legal action initiated by Abayomi Hunye against Senator Solomon Adeola carries profound implications for electoral integrity and the meticulous adherence to statutory requirements in Nigeria's political landscape. It underscores the critical importance for political aspirants and public officials to ensure absolute consistency and accuracy in all statutory declarations and nomination forms submitted to electoral bodies like INEC. The case highlights that alleged perjury or deliberate inconsistencies in such sworn documents can lead to severe legal consequences, potentially challenging electoral outcomes even years after the initial submission.

This challenge serves as a significant precedent for scrutinizing the historical records of public officeholders, emphasizing that official documents are not merely procedural but carry substantial legal weight. The outcome of this case could reinforce the judiciary's role in upholding constitutional compliance and statutory integrity, sending a clear message about the accountability expected from those seeking or holding public office. The pursuit of this lawsuit, irrespective of its final judgment, brings into sharp focus the legal ramifications of discrepancies in electoral documentation, making it a pivotal moment for electoral jurisprudence in Nigeria.

This case highlights the critical importance for lawyers advising political aspirants and public officials to ensure absolute consistency and accuracy in all statutory declarations and nomination forms submitted to electoral bodies. It underscores the severe legal implications of alleged perjury and provides a precedent for challenging electoral outcomes based on inconsistencies in official documents, even years after their submission.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspaper