Oyo Assembly Urged to Probe Alaafin Selection, Alleged Executive Interference

…As petition alleges political rigging, legal violations and misuse of warrant chiefs

A civic group, the Oyo Heritage Forum, has petitioned the Oyo State House of Assembly, calling for an urgent legislative investigation into the selection process that produced Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I as the Alaafin of Oyo.

This was contained in a petition signed and sent to the Oyo State House Assembly, by
the lead petitioner, The Group Chief Executive Probe Communications Group, Otunba Dare Adelekan.

The petition, addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, alleges that the process leading to Oba Owoade’s emergence violated established traditional and legal procedures and has triggered a growing confrontation between the monarch and the state executive.

According to the petitioners, the Oyo-Mesi, the traditional kingmakers empowered under the 1961 Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration, had earlier reached a consensus in favour of Prince Lukman Gbadegesin.

They contend that the subsequent appointment of Oba Owoade by the state government disregarded this decision, thereby undermining the authority of the kingmakers and the integrity of the traditional institution.

The group also raised concerns over what it described as the legal fragility of the current Alaafin’s position, citing an ongoing court case (Suit No. HOY/05/2025) instituted by Prince Gbadegesin.

The petition referenced a 2022 High Court ruling which held that Ifa divination is not a legal requirement in the Alaafin selection process, alleging that reliance on such divination in the current case contradicts existing judicial precedent.

In addition, the petition questioned the reported use of emergency warrant chiefs to validate the selection, despite the prior conclusion of the process by the substantive Oyo-Mesi.

Beyond the selection process, the petition accused Oba Owoade of acts of insubordination and political partisanship, citing his legal challenge against the state government over the Oyo State Council of Obas (Further Amendments) Law, 2025.

The group argued that the monarch’s lawsuit, alongside alleged alignment with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), constitutes misconduct unbecoming of a traditional ruler whose emergence, they claim, was facilitated by the state executive.

The petitioners urged the House of Assembly to exercise its oversight powers by convening a public hearing to allow surviving members of the Oyo-Mesi to testify on whether the selection complied with the registered declaration.

They also called for a full review of the process to determine whether political interference influenced the submission of the Alaafin’s name to the Executive Council.

Furthermore, the group asked the Assembly to enforce compliance with the 2025 Obas Council law, insisting that no traditional ruler should obstruct the rotational chairmanship arrangement intended to promote equity among royal institutions in the state.

“The throne of Oyo belongs to the people, not to the highest political bidder,” the petition stated, warning that prolonged legal disputes and partisan conflicts could further erode the authority of the Alaafin stool.