{
  "id": 7699863,
  "title": "Ogun: Ex-Diplomat Challenges Yayi to Debate over Origin, Senator Threatens Suit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ogun-ex-diplomat-challenges-yayi-to-debate-over-origin-senator",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T03:44:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/16/ogun-ex-diplomat-challenges-yayi-to-debate-over-origin-senator-threatens-suit/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent television program, Folake Marcus-Bello, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Zambia and Malawi and a former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Ogun State, reignited the debate surrounding the ancestry of APC governorship candidate Solomon Adeola, commonly known as Yayi. Marcus-Bello alleged that there was documentary evidence proving that Adeola is not from Yewa, his ancestral region. Expressing her disappointment as a mother, politician, and Nigerian, she denounced the spread of false claims.\n\nThe African People's Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate has responded to the allegations by threatening legal action against both Hon. Abayomi Hunye and Marcus-Bello. According to his media adviser, Kayode Odunaro, Adeola claims that the two individuals made false statements about his origin and that of his family on national television.\n\nMarcus-Bello emphasized the importance of the state of origin in the 2027 gubernatorial election, stating that the Yewa people deserve a governor who is a \"genuine son or daughter of the soil.\" She challenged Adeola to a public confrontation and presented documents that allegedly contradict his claim. Marcus-Bello also demanded that Adeola provide proof to support his allegations within 24 hours, threatening legal action if he fails to do so.",
  "summary": "James Sowole in Abeokuta The battle over who succeeds Governor Dapo Abiodun in 2027 has taken a new turn as a former Nigerian Ambassador to Zambia and Malawi, Folake Marcus-Bello,",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "This Day",
        "title": "Ogun 2027: Ex- Diplomat Says Yayi Not From Ogun, Challenges Him to Debate Over Origin",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ogun-2027-ex-diplomat-says-yayi-not-from-ogun-challenges-him-to",
        "published": "2026-09-15T15:03:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}