25 Years Later, Oke-Ako Ekiti Finally Gets Monarch as Long Chieftaincy Battle Ends

After 25 years of legal battle and traditional stool wahala, Oke-Ako Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State don finally get new monarch. Ekiti State Government has approved the appointment of Prince Olarewaju Bamidele Oni as the new Owa of Oke-Ako Ekiti, bringing an end to a vacancy that started after the death of the former monarch, Oba Jackson Omotayo Ogunbiyi, in December 2000.

The long-running matter reportedly involved competing interests within the Aofin Ruling House, with the dispute eventually travelling through the courts up to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered on December 19, 2025, affirmed that every male member of the three branches of the Aofin Ruling House could contest for the stool.

25 Years of Court Matter Finally Get Ending

The Owa stool is governed by a Chieftaincy Declaration produced by the Oyewole Chieftaincy Review Commission, which recognises two ruling houses—Aofin and Okediosan—for rotation of the traditional throne. Since the immediate past Owa came from Okediosan, Aofin was next in line to produce the new monarch.

But within Aofin itself, three stocks—Oke-Aofin, Odo-Aofin and Afata—had been involved in a prolonged legal disagreement over who had the right to present candidates. After the Supreme Court judgment, stakeholders reportedly entered a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at settling the matter peacefully and preserving unity in the community.

New Owa Emerges After Traditional Selection

Under the agreement, Oke-Aofin, which had never previously produced the Owa, was allowed to present candidates for the current vacancy, while Odo-Aofin would have its turn during the next rotation of the Aofin Ruling House. The state government said the selection followed tradition, the rule of law and an Ifa divination exercise.

Prince Oni reportedly emerged as the unanimous choice of the four participating kingmakers before being declared Owa-elect. The Ekiti State Executive Council subsequently approved his appointment and authorised publication of the legal notice in the state government gazette.

For Oke-Ako people, the development no be ordinary palace announcement—it marks the end of more than two decades without a substantive traditional ruler. After 25 years of court papers, arguments and succession battles, the community finally gets another occupant for the throne. Now, the real test be whether the new monarch can turn the long-awaited peace into unity, stability and development.