APC threatens to sue Ogun gov aspirant over alleged impersonation

. As Fusengbuwa ruling house sues Ogun govt for suspending selection process for new Awujale

Cyril Mbah, Abuja and agency reporter

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed as false the self-declaration by Chief Abayomi Hunye as the party’s governorship candidate for Ogun State in the 2027 election, describing him as an impostor.

In a statement signed and issued on Monday by the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, the party said Hunye is currently on suspension and lacks the legal and moral standing to represent the APC in any capacity.

According to the party, Hunye was suspended on April 7, 2026, following a petition from his ward, Tube Ward in Ipokia Local Government Area. The suspension was ratified by the Ipokia LGA and formally approved by the Ogun State Working Committee.

The APC said the decision was not arbitrary but a grassroots action driven by ward executives. The suspension letter was subsequently communicated to the National Headquarters of the party.

The statement listed the grounds for his suspension to include “nefarious dealings” and “anti-party activities.”

The party accused him of engaging in activities injurious to the image of the APC and actions aimed at causing disaffection and division among loyal members.

For the avoidance of doubt, the APC reaffirmed that its duly nominated governorship candidate for Ogun State is Senator Adeola Solomon Olamilekan, with Balogun Kudirat Abiodun as his running mate.

The party said the names and particulars of the duo have been successfully uploaded onto the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC guidelines.

It added that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has issued official Acknowledgement Slips confirming Senator Adeola and Balogun Kudirat as the duly recognized flag bearers of the APC for the January 2027 Ogun governorship election.

The APC warned the public, stakeholders and organisations against associating or transacting any political business with Hunye under the guise of the party.

“Any person, group, or organisation that associates, collaborates, or transacts any political business with Abayomi Hunye under the guise of the APC does so at their own risk,” the statement said.

It added that “The Party will not be held liable for any financial loss, legal disputes, or criminal liability that may arise from such dealings.”

The party also announced that it has instructed its legal team to initiate contempt proceedings and file a formal complaint with relevant security agencies to address what it called “gross misrepresentation and impersonation.”

In addition, the APC cautioned the media against granting Hunye a platform to propagate his claims, warning that doing so could be interpreted as complicity in a fraudulent act.

It urged supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, and directed that all clarifications be sought from the APC National Secretariat through the Office of the National Secretary.

The party attached copies of the INEC Acknowledgement Slips for Senator Adeola and Balogun Kudirat, as well as letters from Ipokia LGA and the Ogun State Working Committee ratifying Hunye’s suspension.

Meanwhile, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House has dragged the Ogun State Government and the Awujale Afobaje Kingmakers Council before the Ogun State High Court over the stalled process of selecting a successor to the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

The suit, marked HCJ/149/2026, was filed at the High Court of Justice, Ijebu Ode Judicial Division, on August 21, 2026.

The ruling house is asking the court to compel the nine-member Awujale Afobaje Kingmakers Council to reconvene and complete the selection process, which it claims was validly commenced and subsequently stalled.

The late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, died on July 13, 2025, leaving the revered traditional stool vacant.

According to the court documents, Ijebu Ode Local Government notified the Fusengbuwa Ruling House on December 2, 2025, that it was the family’s turn to produce a candidate in line with the rotational arrangement recognised under the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State 2021.

The ruling house subsequently commenced its nomination process and held a meeting on January 12, 2026, during which 95 princes and princesses were nominated.

The list was forwarded to the nine-member Awujale Afobaje Kingmakers Council on January 19, 2026, for the next stage of the selection process.

The kingmakers are chaired by Olor’gun Sonny Kuku, the Ogbeni Oja, with other members including Chief Rasheed Adesanya (Olisa), Chief Oluwaranti Lekan Osifeso (Olootu Olowa), Chief Jimi Lawal (Olootu Ifore), Chief Abimbola Okenla (Kakanfo Awujale), Chief Kunle Ogunade (Apebi), Chief Agboola Alausa (Balogun), Chief Adebisi Adaran, also known as Gbenden (Ogbeni Odi), and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja (Lapoekun and Secretary).

However, the claimants alleged that less than 24 hours after the list was submitted, police officers entered the Awujale Palace after midnight on January 20 and prevented the kingmakers from meeting to select a preferred candidate.

The ruling house said a subsequent letter from the local government cited security reports and allegations of bribery and financial inducement as reasons for suspending the process.

The suit names the Executive Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Hon. Dare Alebiosu, who had earlier approved the commencement of the process, as well as the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat.

The claimants alleged that Hamzat later petitioned the Eleweeran Police Station in Abeokuta on February 2, 2026, requesting that the kingmakers and principal officers of the ruling house be invited for questioning.

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House, however, denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that no evidence or formal petition supporting the allegations was presented. It further claimed that investigations by the police and the Department of State Services did not establish any wrongdoing.

In the suit, the claimants are asking the court to declare that the nomination process was lawfully completed and that the kingmakers are required under Section 16(1)(e)-(f) of the Ogun State chieftaincy law to select a candidate from the submitted list and forward the name to the State Executive Council.

They also want the court to declare that the State Executive Council is legally required under Section 22 of the law to act on the kingmakers’ selection.

Among other reliefs, the ruling house is seeking an order directing the kingmakers to reconvene within seven days of judgment and conclude the selection process.

It is also asking for an injunction restraining the Ogun State Government and security agencies from further interfering with the selection process.

Counsel to the claimants, led by Otunba Olusegun Otayemi, argued that the state chieftaincy law provides a sequential process of nomination, selection and approval, which must be followed once validly initiated.

The legal team also cited previous judicial decisions, including Menakaya v. Menakaya and Garba v. University of Maiduguri, in support of its arguments on statutory duties and fair hearing.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Attorney-General of Ogun State and the Ogun State Executive Council are also listed as defendants in the suit.

The case is yet to be heard by the court, while responses from the defendants have not been made public.

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