The Ekiti State Executive Council has approved the appointment of Prince Bamidele Oni as the new Owa of Oke-Ako Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area, ending a 25-year vacancy in the traditional stool.

🇳🇬 Here's What Happened

The approval was given at the council’s sixth meeting of 2026, held on Tuesday, August 18, at the Executive Council Chamber, New Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti.

According to the highlights of the meeting published by the State Ministry of Information on its website on Wednesday, the vacancy dates back to 2000 and followed a prolonged dispute over succession to the traditional stool.

It said, “The Ekiti State Executive Council approved the appointment of Prince Bamidele Olanrewaju Oni as the new Owa of Oke-Ako Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area, bringing to an end a prolonged vacancy in the traditional stool dating back to 2000.

📌 Key Details

“The Owa of Oke-Ako Ekiti is a recognised chieftaincy governed by a Chieftaincy Declaration produced by the Oyewole Chieftaincy Review Commission, which provides for two Ruling Houses, namely, Aofin and Okediosan, to rotate the stool.

“Council noted that the immediate past Owa hailed from the Okediosan Ruling House, making the Aofin Ruling House next in line to produce the occupant of the stool. The Aofin Ruling House comprises three stocks, Oke-Aofin, Odo-Aofin and Afata.”

The council said the three stocks had been involved in about 25 years of litigation over their entitlement to present candidates for the stool.

“The Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered on December 19, 2025, affirmed that every male member of the three stocks was entitled to contest for the chieftaincy.

“Following the judgment, stakeholders entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to promote equity and preserve communal harmony.

“Under the arrangement, the Oke-Aofin stock, which had never produced the Owa, was to present candidates for the current vacancy, while the Odo-Aofin stock would have the opportunity to present candidates at the next turn of the Aofin Ruling House.”

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria