The Akinbola Ruling House of Alade-Idanre has rejected the alleged emergence of Chief Ayo Akinnadeju as Oba-elect, asserting that his selection is invalid and goes against the customs and laws governing the Alade-Idanre kingdom.
In a public statement, the Akinbola family emphasized that the Akinnadeju family has never been acknowledged as a royal family in Alade-Idanre. They further contended that Chief Ayo Akinnadeju is ineligible to be presented as Oba-elect, as he does not belong to either of the two recognized ruling families in the kingdom.
The family called on the Ondo State Government, traditional authorities, and the general public to dismiss what it termed an illegal and flawed selection process that allegedly produced Chief Akinnadeju. According to the Akinbola family, the ongoing dispute over the Alade-Idanre stool originates from the passing of the late Oba Olusegun Ayodele Akinbola in October 2020. Since then, the community has faced an unresolved obaship tussle characterized by repeated breaches of established traditional procedures.
To address what it labeled as persistent illegality, the Akinbola family announced that it has approached the High Court of Justice of Ondo State, sitting in Akure, to seek an order halting any unlawful selection for the esteemed stool of Alade-Idanre. The family recalled that it had previously filed legal action against the late Engr. Alex Akinnadeju, who had claimed the title of Oba-elect. In that case, the Akinbola family urged the court to overturn the process that produced him, asserting that he was not from any recognized ruling house within the kingdom.
Following Engr. Alex Akinnadeju’s death, the family indicated they submitted an application to the court to replace his name with that of Mr. Ayo Akinnadeju in Suit No: AK/218/2023, which is still pending.
The Akinbola family stressed that the late Engr. Alex Akinnadeju was never a legitimate Oba-elect, as the case contesting his emergence remained before the court at the time of his passing. Therefore, the family condemned what it described as the illegal selection of Chief Ayo Akinnadeju, insisting he is not a member of either of the two royal families under the Lagokun Ruling House.
They further asserted that Chief Ayo Akinnadeju’s emergence was fundamentally flawed, highlighting that he belongs neither to the Akinbola nor the Akinboro family—both of which form the Lagokun Ruling House of Alade-Idanre.
In a statement reviewed by The Legal Observer, the Akinbola family clarified that Lagokun remains the only recognized ruling house in Alade-Idanre, consisting solely of the Akinbola and Akinboro families.
The family explained that since the Akinbola family produced the immediate past Oba, traditional rotation dictates that it is the Akinboro family’s turn to present a candidate for the throne. However, they added that if the Akinboro family is unable to present a candidate at this time, the right of succession would revert to the Akinbola family, as both families jointly comprise the Lagokun Ruling House.
The Akinbola family urged the kingmakers to strictly adhere to tradition and due process to maintain peace and uphold the integrity of the Alade-Idanre stool.
A call put through to the Chairman of Idanre Local Government, Barr. Smart Adeuyi Omotadowa further affirmed that the Local Government is still standing by its declaration of Akinnadeju as the Aladeokun-elect.
