From Sulaimon To Solomon: The Untold Story Behind Senator Yayi’s Name Change Ahead Of 2027 Ogun Race
ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA — As the battle for the 2027 Ogun State governorship race intensifies, the media office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, has broken its silence on the brewing controversies surrounding the lawmaker’s identity.
In an exclusive interview on Saturday, Kayode Odunaro, the Media Adviser to the politician popularly known as “Yayi,” revealed that the senator changed his name from Sulaimon Ogunleye to Solomon Adeola following a deeply personal religious conversion from Islam to Christianity.
The clarification comes amid growing scrutiny and political chatter regarding the senator’s background and official documentation ahead of the critical election.
Defending his principal, Odunaro dismissed allegations of any fraudulent intent, emphasizing that the identity transition was entirely lawful and occurred decades ago—long before Senator Adeola ever stepped into the political arena.
“There is absolutely nothing unusual or hidden about the Senator changing his name,” Odunaro stated.
“He was born into a devout Muslim family and carried the name Sulaimon Ogunleye, which reflects his roots and appeared on his early documents, including during his time working at The Guardian newspapers.”
According to the media aide, the shift occurred when Adeola made a personal choice as an adult to embrace Christianity. Following his conversion, he adopted the biblical name “Solomon” and chose to utilize “Adeola”—a name deeply rooted in his family lineage—distancing himself from “Ogunleye,” which bears traditional religious connotations.
With the 2027 Ogun State governorship election drawing closer, opposition elements have increasingly questioned the candidate’s background.
However, Yayi’s camp insists that the public disclosure of his faith journey and name modification puts a permanent end to any doubts regarding his integrity.
