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The media adviser to the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, has explained why the politician changed his name from Sulaimon Ogunleye to Solomon Adeola.
Adeola’s media aide, Kayode Odunaro, said the name change took place years before the senator ventured into politics and followed his conversion from Islam to Christianity.
Odunaro made the clarification while responding to questions surrounding Adeola’s identity and name ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Saturday, Odunaro said there was nothing unusual about the senator changing his name, noting that people could change their names for personal, religious or other reasons.
According to him, Adeola was born into a Muslim family and later adopted the name Solomon after becoming a Christian.
“Many people at some point in life have had cause to change their names. Even the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, once changed his name. His original name wasn’t Atiku Abubakar,” Odunaro said.
He explained that Adeola had already changed his name before becoming involved in politics.
“So, that is not an issue, and the senator has changed his name since he was at The Guardian. He was Sulaimon Ogunleye, but changing his religion from Islam to Christianity made him change his name,” he said.
Odunaro also explained the connection between the names Sulaimon and Solomon, saying the latter was adopted after Adeola became a Christian.
“Solomon is the biblical name for Sulaimon. His father’s name is Ogunleye and Adeola. He only chose Adeola as his surname,” he added.
Controversy Over Adeola’s Identity
The explanation followed recent questions surrounding Adeola’s identity after a former chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo, alleged that the senator was originally known as Sulaimon Ogunleye and was from Ekiti State.
Adeola subsequently demanded that Adedayo and others making similar claims provide evidence or face legal action.
Odunaro, however, maintained that the senator’s change of name was not evidence of wrongdoing.
He argued that people could change their names for several reasons, including personal circumstances and religious conversion.
The controversy comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election continue to generate discussions about the backgrounds and identities of political candidates.
The claims surrounding Adeola’s previous name and background remain disputed by the parties involved.
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