Aspirant sues Oyo gov, 19 others over alleged failed due process on Alaafin’s stool

INEC’s ex-commissioner to chair coronation committee

An aspirant to the stool of Alaafin Oyo, Ismaila Olamilekan Owoade, has instituted a suit against Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and 19 others, for allegedly excluding him from the process by appointing Abimbola Owoade as the Alaafin, which he claims, was done in violation of due process.

The claimant is praying the court to restrain Owoade and Lukman Ayinla Gbadegesin (fifth defendant) from parading themselves as the Alaafin of Oyo based on the process of their appointment as he alleged that it excluded Baba Iyaji.

In a suit filed by his counsel, Bamidele Ogundele, before Justice Jimoh Adesina of Oyo State High Court sitting in Oyo, who had fixed March 11, 2025 for hearing of the suit, the claimant is seeking an order of the court setting aside the purported appointment and presentation of staff of office to Owoade as Alaafin of Oyo as he said same was conducted in violation of the provision of the registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 and Chiefs Law of Oyo State 2000 and consequently illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional invalid, null and void.

In his statement of claim, Owoade said that the governor and all other constituted authorities failed to comply with due process the grievances of the claimant now ventilated before the court, among others..

HOWEVER, a former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, has been named Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the coronation of newly appointed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade I.

The 97-member committee approved by the new Alaafin is intended to collaborate with the one already established by the Oyo State Government to ensure a smooth coronation on April 5, 2025, in Oyo town.

This was made known through a statement signed by the Chief of Staff to the new monarch, Rotimi Osuntola, yesterday. Osuntola said that the inaugural meeting of all committee members would take place on February 12, 2025, in the Alaafin’s palace in Oyo. He stated that the historic event intends to bring Yoruba land together, with active engagement from stakeholders both inside and outside the region.