The Chairman, Council of Kingmakers in Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Chief Oluwatimilehin Gbemisayo, has admitted irregularities in the suspended process to select a new Oloba of Oba-Ile.
Gbemisayo, who is also the Elemo of Oba-Ile, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Akure.
He said the council was awaiting a fresh directive from the state government before commencing a new selection process.
The Oloba stool became vacant following the death of the previous traditional ruler on May 9, 2025.
Gbemisayo said the necessary rites to announce the monarch’s death had been completed, after which the state government approved the commencement of the succession process in June 2026.
He explained that the community’s chieftaincy declaration required the next Oloba to emerge from the Elegbeje-Edo ruling house, as the late monarch was from the Akayedo ruling house.
According to him, five eligible princes from the ruling house expressed interest and were screened by the kingmakers.
They were Rena Fagoroyo, Busuyi Bayodo, Odunayo Omodara, Gbadebo Adeusi and Kola Omodara.
However, Gbemisayo said the exercise was suspended following protests by some indigenes who alleged that due process was not followed and that key stakeholders were excluded.
He said the protesters also faulted the decision to hold part of the selection exercise at the Akure North Local Government Secretariat in Itaogbolu, rather than at Oba-Ile.
“The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs summoned the kingmakers after the protest and informed us that the process had been nullified.
“We were told that the ministry would write to us through the local government to commence a fresh selection process, and we are still awaiting that letter,” he said.
Gbemisayo also disclosed that the Ifa divination conducted during the exercise produced conflicting results, with different candidates emerging at different stages.
“I became confused because the same Ifa Oracle chose different candidates at different stages.
“The state government was informed about the development.
“To me, something definitely went wrong in the process, either on the part of the Ifa Oracle or among us, the kingmakers,” he said.
He said each of the five contestants had paid N5 million for nomination forms, but the money was refunded following a petition and directive from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The kingmaker added that before the process was suspended, the six-member council held a vote in which Odunayo Omodara secured three votes, Gbadebo Adeusi two, and Kola Omodara one.
Gbemisayo appealed to youths and residents of Oba-Ile to remain calm and patient, assuring them that the fresh selection process would be transparent and involve all relevant stakeholders.
“We appeal to our youths and the entire people of Oba-Ile to remain calm. The next selection process will be conducted transparently and witnessed by all concerned stakeholders,” he said.
