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How Makinde Bypassed Oyomesi, Defiled Court Ruling To Appoint Alaafin As Owoade

Makinde bypasses Oyomesi for Alaafin appointment.
Oyomesi rejects Owoade’s selection.
Critics slam Makinde’s breach of tradition.

The Oyo State Government, led by Governor Seyi Makinde, has announced Abimbola Owoade as the Alaafin-designate, bypassing the selection process of the Oyomesi, Oyo’s traditional council of kingmakers.

The announcement on Friday has sparked widespread criticism and escalated tensions over the vacant Alaafin stool, a revered Yoruba traditional title.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the position became vacant after the death of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on April 22, 2022.

The Oyomesi, entrusted with selecting the next Alaafin under the Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, began the process after the Atiba Local Government approved it in August 2022.

After screening 82 aspirants from the Agunloye Ruling House, the Oyomesi unanimously selected Lukman Gbadegesin, a grandson of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin (1956–1966), on September 30, 2022.

Atiba Local Government conveyed this decision to the governor on October 4, 2022, as required by Section 20 of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State.

The law provides a 21-day window for objections from dissatisfied aspirants or ruling houses, but no petitions were filed.

A subsequent legal challenge by a dissatisfied aspirant was dismissed by the Oyo State High Court on December 19, 2022, which upheld the Oyomesi-led process.

Despite defending the process in court, Governor Makinde withheld his approval of Gbadegesin’s appointment for over a year and, on January 10, 2025, announced Abimbola Owoade, also of the Agunloye Ruling House, as the Alaafin-designate.

The Oyomesi rejected the appointment, accusing the governor of breaching the 1961 declaration. Two council members had earlier alleged bribery in Gbadegesin’s selection but provided no evidence.

Makinde Appoint Alaafin

Critics argue the governor’s unilateral action sets a dangerous precedent. “The customary law does not require consulting the Ifa oracle,” a December 2022 court ruling noted, but Yoruba scholar Professor Wande Abimbola claims Ifa was consulted in Owoade’s selection.

The Oyomesi has vowed to challenge the governor’s decision in court.