Stakeholders in Aramoko Ekiti in the Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State have insisted on due process in the ongoing procedure to select the next Alara of Aramoko Kingdom, especially that kingmakers should elect the next occupant of the stool.

The stakeholders disagreed with the directive by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, that Ifa oracle should be consulted again as the final step for the emergence of a new monarch for the community.

Such, they stated, was not in line with applicable legal and customary framework for the selection process.

The stakeholders had convened to address issues around the inconclusive selection of the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti.

According to the communique signed by the Sajowa of Aramoko and representative of Alara-in-Council, Kolade Oyebade; the Vice President, Aramoko Development Association, Abiodun Ilori and some other representatives of associations, “the Alara-elect should emerge through voting by the duly constituted kingmakers.”

The stakeholders’ meeting, which was presided over by the Regent of Aramoko Ekiti, Adekemi Owolabi (née Adeyemi), had in attendance chiefs led by the Asao of Aramoko, Oladiran Adebayo; representatives of the ADA; and retired public servants including a former Head of Service, Ekiti State, Mr Olufemi Adewumi.

The meeting also had in attendance academics, political leaders, representatives of youth and women groups, market leaders, religious leaders and other prominent indigenes of the community.

Among others, the stakeholders resolved that the outcome of the Ifa divination conducted in the community, as part of the process for the selection of the Alara on 23rd April, 2026, under the supervision of the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Olaiya Atibioke, be adopted as valid and binding, having produced the three most qualified princes for the stool.

The Alara stool became vacant on August 9, 2025, following the passage of Oba Olu Adeyemi.

Recall that eight eligible princes who showed interest in occupying the stool were, on 23rd April, 2026, subjected to the customary Ifa divination process in accordance with the established tradition governing the selection of the Alara.

At the end of the divination, three candidates were recommended by the process for further consideration by the kingmakers for voting.

The consequent voting exercise resulted in a tie between two of the three princes, leading to adjournment to a later date for conclusion.

However, the Deputy Governor, Afuye, at an interaction with the 12 kingmakers and some stakeholders on July 16, 2026, directed the community to embrace a proposal that Ifa oracle should be consulted again following the tie.

The deputy governor had said, “The instruction is that the government will midwife a selection process through Ifa divination under a moderated atmosphere.

“There is no voting after the Ifa consultation. Someone must surely emerge when Ifa is consulted. That has been the standard practice from time immemorial.”

But, the stakeholders in the communique held, “There is no justification for conducting another Ifa divination. The Commissioner for Chieftaincy, who supervised the exercise of April 2026, publicly commended the peaceful conduct of the process and expressed appreciation to the people of Aramoko Ekiti for their cooperation, thereby affirming the credibility and integrity of the exercise.

“The outcome of the Ifa divination conducted on 23rd April, 2026, under the supervision of the Commissioner for Chieftaincy be adopted as valid and binding, having produced the three most qualified princes for the stool.

“Consequently, one of the three princes should emerge as the Oba-elect through voting by the duly constituted Kingmakers, in accordance with the applicable Chieftaincy Declaration (Specifically Part F (vi) and (vii) of the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration 2024) and customary practice.”

The stakeholders maintained that the community was desirous to have another Alara of Aramoko and invited the state government to help supervise the consequent kingmakers’ voting process in accordance with the extant laws.

“This, in effect, will bring the subject matter to a conclusion in a process which has had the state government’s dutiful involvement in ensuring credibility ab initio.

“That the provisions of the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration 2024, made pursuant to Section 1(2)(b) of the Chiefs Law, Cap. C5, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, together with the Customary Law regulating the selection of the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, remain the applicable legal and customary framework for the selection process,” they resolved.