Oyo Assembly Receives Six Petitions Against Alaafin of Oyo, Akeem Owoade, Amid Dethronement Talks
Ademola Busayo 
The Oyo State House of Assembly has been urged to commence an urgent investigation into the selection and legitimacy of the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, following the submission of six petitions alleging irregularities, political interference and legal breaches in the ascension process.
The petitions, jointly submitted by concerned citizens and stakeholders under the platform of the Oyo Heritage Forum, were formally addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, on January 20, 2026.
The petitioners warned that the ancient Alaafin stool is facing unprecedented legal and political instability that could culminate in dethronement if not urgently addressed.
In the petition titled “Call for an Urgent Investigation into the Legitimacy of the Alaafin Selection Process and the Escalating Confrontation with the State Executive,” the group challenged the process that produced Oba Owoade, describing it as a deviation from established tradition and law.
According to the petitioners, the 1961 Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration vests the power of selection in the Oyo Mesi, who reportedly voted overwhelmingly in favour of Prince Lukman Gbadegesin.
They alleged that the eventual appointment of Oba Owoade by the state government amounted to a circumvention of traditional consensus and an erosion of the sanctity of the revered stool.
“It sets a dangerous precedent where traditional institutions are subjected to political manipulation,” the petition stated, warning that such interference could destabilise other traditional stools across the state.
The petition also drew attention to the ongoing court case, Suit No. HOY/05/2025, instituted by Prince Gbadegesin, which it said has placed the reign of the incumbent Alaafin on shaky legal ground. Of particular concern, the group cited what it described as the controversial reliance on Ifa divination in the selection process, contrary to a 2022 High Court ruling which held that Ifa consultation is not a legal requirement under the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration.
Equally contentious, the petitioners questioned the alleged deployment of emergency warrant chiefs to validate a process they claimed had already been concluded by the substantive Oyo Mesi.
Beyond the selection process, the petition accused the monarch of acts of insubordination and political partisanship.
The group noted that Oba Owoade has instituted legal action against the Oyo State Government over the Oyo State Council of Obas (Further Amendments) Law, 2025, despite being a beneficiary of state intervention in his ascension.
They further alleged that the monarch’s perceived alignment with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) undermines the neutrality expected of a traditional ruler and constitutes gross misconduct.
“A monarch who emerged through government involvement cannot, in good conscience, challenge the same authority and align openly with partisan interests,” the petition argued.
As part of their prayers, the petitioners 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 in line with the registered declaration.
They also called for a thorough review of the selection process to determine whether political interference influenced the nomination submitted to the Executive Council.
In addition, the group asked the Assembly to ensure strict compliance with the 2025 Council of Obas law, stressing that no traditional ruler should be allowed to frustrate the rotational chairmanship arrangement aimed at promoting equity among royal fathers in the state.
In a strongly worded conclusion, the petition warned that the Alaafin stool belongs to the people of Oyo and not to “the highest political bidder,” cautioning that a reign founded on manipulation cannot endure.
The lead petitioner, Otunba Dare Adelekan, who signed on behalf of the group as Chief Executive of Probe Communications Group, appealed to lawmakers to act swiftly to prevent the ancient throne from being further diminished by prolonged court battles and partisan disputes.
As of press time, the Oyo State House of Assembly had yet to publicly respond to the petitions, but political watchers say the development has opened a new chapter in the unfolding drama surrounding one of Nigeria’s most revered traditional institutions.
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