The Oyo State Government has sanctioned the elevation of Sharafadeen Ali, a member of the National Assembly representing Oyo South Senatorial District, alongside High Chiefs Bolaji Adewoyin and Kola Babalola, to the status of beaded crown-wearing Obas in Ibadanland.
The appointments place them in the traditional positions of Ekerin Olubadan, Ekaarun Balogun, and Ekarun Olubadan.
With their elevation, the high chiefs will transition into obaship status, securing higher standing within the state’s traditional council.
Meanwhile, it was reported earlier that Alli is being considered as a consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 governorship election.
Several aspirants within the All Progressives Congress are also contending for the Oyo State governorship ticket. They include the party’s 2023 candidate, Teslim Folarin; Senator representing Oyo North, Abdulfatai Buhari; Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu; former Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan; legal practitioner, Akeem Agbaje; former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu; ex-Commissioner for Health, Azeez Adeduntan; as well as Saheed Oladele, Gbenga Adegbola, and Kunle Busari, son of late Ibadan political figure, Chief Busari Adelakun, popularly known as Eruobodo.
Meanwhile, the state government on Thursday approved Alli’s elevation through a memo issued by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo. The document, titled “Re: Request for the list of High Chiefs who are due for elevation to wear beaded crown in Ibadanland,” bears registration number CB.211/10/Vol. II/67 and is dated March 26, 2026.
The letter was addressed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
The letter read, “I have the directive to refer to Your Majesty’s correspondence ref no L/ADV/Co/1242/843 dated 23rd March, 2026, in respect of the above and to inform Your Majesty that while making arrangements for the compilation of the High Chiefs and Baales who are due for beaded crown wearing in Ibadanland as requested.
“It is traditionally necessary and very essential at this point in time that the newly elevated Chiefs in Olubadan in Council, i.e. High Chief Akeem Bolaji Adewoyin, Ekeerin Olubadan, High Chief Sharafadeen Ali, Ekaarun Balogun and High Chief Kola Babalola, Ekaarun Olubadan, should be immediately conferred with beaded crowns in order to avoid unnecessary insinuation that the delay is deliberate and political.
“This is necessary in order to protect the Ibadan traditional institution. To this end, Your Majesty is hereby informed that the coronation/crown-wearing programme for the above-mentioned High Chiefs has been fixed for Friday, April 3, 2026, at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan.
“The promotion of the affected High Chiefs is in line with the 2024 Chieftaincy law as amended. With the promotion, the affected High Chiefs have become members of the Olubadan Advisory Council,” the letter stressed.
It was reported that the Oyo State Government, in 2024, officially announced a revised Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration reflecting fresh amendments.
The updated declaration, which was approved by the State House of Assembly and subsequently signed into law by Governor Seyi Makinde in 2025, amended Section 4 of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.
The original version stated: “The person who may be proposed as a candidate by the line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line.”
The original provision stated that “the person who may be proposed as a candidate by the line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most senior High Chief in that line.”
However, under Section 4 of the amendment, titled “New Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration,” the phrase “the most senior High Chief in that line” was replaced with “the most senior beaded crown Oba in that line.”
The revised section now provides that “the candidate to be nominated by the line entitled to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most senior beaded crown Oba in that line.”
When contacted on Thursday, the media aide to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Adeola Oloko, confirmed receipt of the correspondence from the state government.
He said, “The palace has received the letter confirming the promotion of the three high chiefs to the status of the beaded crown-wearing Obas.
“The letter has been forwarded to the beneficiaries, and we are expecting their responses at the appropriate time.”
Commenting on the issue, the Public Relations Officer of the All Progressives Congress, Wale Sadare, said the matter was not within the party’s purview, noting that the senator’s media aide would provide the appropriate response.
In his reaction, a legal practitioner, Muideen Olagunju, stated that no constitutional provision prohibits a traditional ruler from vying for elective office.
“In my opinion, this is unprecedented in Oyo State. There is no express provision in the law that stops a monarch from contesting elections. It is more of a moral issue rooted in tradition than a legal restriction.”
He added that although monarchs are traditionally expected to remain politically neutral, there have been precedents of royal figures participating in politics without legal repercussions.
Meanwhile, a close associate of Senator Alli told The PUNCH that the lawmaker would not attend the coronation scheduled by the state government.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to comment on behalf of the governorship aspirant, maintained that attempts by the Makinde administration to frustrate Alli’s ambition would not succeed.
He further noted that Oba Ladoja was not prepared for the elevation, adding that the palace was still in the process of compiling a list of other chiefs eligible for promotion.
Drawing inspiration from English poet William Shakespeare, he said: “No amount of water in the rough, rude sea can wash the balm off from a man on whose shoulders it will please God to place the mantle of leadership of the state come next year.”
He added, “The governor is free to proceed with the coronation, but by God’s grace, Alli will attend his own swearing-in on May 29, 2027, when, Deo Volente, he will be inaugurated as the Governor of Oyo State.”
The state chapter of the APC has expressed concern over what it called Governor Makinde’s reckless neglect of governance in favor of political pursuits.
The party claimed that Makinde’s personal anxiety about life after his tenure has influenced both him and his associates, who it accused of exploiting state resources to the detriment of over seven million citizens.
In a statement issued in Ibadan, Sadare questioned Makinde about the time and state resources allegedly squandered in his attempt to consolidate power within the struggling Peoples Democratic Party, all at the expense of the people of the Pacesetters State.
“When Makinde won his second term in office, some people were of the opinion that he would face governance squarely and deliver good governance as desired by all and sundry, but he chose to devote more time to fight for the soul of the PDP, which had been enmeshed in intractable crisis for quite some time.
“It is delusional for Makinde to have a belief that his luck in politics could carry him beyond the personal gains of his eight years in Agodi Government House, and if he continues to chase any office at the national level, the consequences would be anything but pleasant.
“More so, the current comatose status of the PDP was facilitated by some overrated political players who are members of the same umbrella party, including Governor Makinde, and it is certain that history would not be kind to them,” he said.
The party expressed concern that the governor was more focused on politics rather than keeping track of the state’s ongoing developments.
“Last Tuesday, many lives of Ibadan residents were lost to a road accident at Oje market, and a few hours later, the governor gathered his supporters to discuss 2027 politics, and they all agreed on a date to leave the sinking ship of PDP.
“The following day, when residents were mourning in grief, Makinde decided to celebrate his reckless spending of the taxpayers’ money on the purchase of brand new cars for the inefficient elected council officials and illegal party officials.
“It is on record that Governor Makinde has demonstrated a lack of understanding of the implications of the ongoing war in the Middle East on the local economy of the state; otherwise, he would have taken some proactive measures in the interest of the populace rather than the show of opulence and ostentation.
“Most public hospitals, schools and institutions have been left to deteriorate while there are no new ones even as security challenges fester across the state and sad enough, the governor looks away,” APC lamented.
