Oyo Assembly receives a petition demanding a probe into the Alaafin selection crisis and alleged political interference in the process

Rt Hon Debo Ogundoyin, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, on Monday received a forceful petition seeking an urgent legislative investigation into the Alaafin selection crisis and the appointment of Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I.

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The petition was submitted by Otunba Dare Adelekan, Group Chief Executive of Probe Communications Group, on behalf of the Oyo Heritage Forum, a group describing itself as concerned citizens and cultural stakeholders.

The petition questioned the legitimacy of Oba Owoade’s emergence, alleging that the selection process ignored the traditional consensus of the Oyo Mesi, the recognised kingmakers under the 1961 Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration.

According to the petitioners, the Oyo Mesi had overwhelmingly voted for Prince Lukman Gbadegesin before the State Government intervened and approved a different candidate.

They argued that the intervention amounted to political manipulation of a sacred institution and warned that it set a dangerous precedent for state interference in traditional stools.

The petition also drew attention to an ongoing court case, Suit No. HOY/05/2025, filed by Prince Gbadegesin, which it said had left the throne legally vulnerable.

It raised concerns over the reported reliance on Ifa divination in the selection process, despite a 2022 High Court ruling that declared such consultation non-mandatory under the law.

The petitioners further questioned the use of emergency warrant chiefs, claiming they were deployed to legitimise a process already concluded by the substantive kingmakers.

Beyond the selection process, the petition accused Oba Owoade of insubordination following his decision to sue the Oyo State Government over the Oyo State Council of Obas (Further Amendments) Law 2025.

It described the action as unprecedented and politically charged, citing his perceived alignment with the opposition All Progressives Congress as evidence of partisanship.

The petition maintained that a monarch whose ascension involved government intervention could not credibly challenge the same government’s legislative authority.

As reliefs, the group urged the House of Assembly to convene a public hearing and invite surviving members of the Oyo Mesi to testify on whether due process was followed.

It also asked lawmakers to investigate alleged political influence in the submission of the monarch’s name and to enforce compliance with the 2025 law on rotational leadership within the Council of Obas.

“The throne of Oyo belongs to the people, not political bidders,” the petition stated, warning that continued legal battles could erode the authority of the Alaafin institution.

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The House of Assembly had not issued an official response at the time of filing this report.