Oke-Ako Ekiti Gets New Owa After 25-Year Royal Vacancy

The Oke-Ako community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State has finally got a new traditional ruler after a 25-year vacancy in the royal stool.

The Ekiti State Executive Council approved the appointment of Prince Bamidele Olanrewaju Oni as the new Owa of Oke-Ako Ekiti at its sixth meeting of 2026, held on Tuesday, August 18, in Ado-Ekiti.

The traditional stool had remained vacant since 2000 following a prolonged dispute over the succession process. The disagreement involved members of the ruling houses and eventually resulted in years of litigation over who was entitled to produce the next monarch.

According to the state government, the Owa stool is governed by a chieftaincy declaration that provides for the rotation of the position between two ruling houses — Aofin and Okediosan.

The immediate past Owa came from the Okediosan Ruling House, meaning the Aofin Ruling House was next in line to produce the new monarch.

However, the Aofin Ruling House itself consists of three stocks — Oke-Aofin, Odo-Aofin and Afata — which had been involved in a prolonged disagreement over their respective entitlement to present candidates for the throne.

The dispute eventually reached the Supreme Court. In a judgment delivered on December 19, 2025, the court affirmed that every male member of the three stocks was entitled to contest for the traditional stool.

Following the judgment, stakeholders reached a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at resolving the longstanding disagreement, promoting fairness and restoring peace within the community.

Under the arrangement, the Oke-Aofin stock, which had never previously produced an Owa, was given the opportunity to present candidates for the current vacancy. The Odo-Aofin stock is expected to have the opportunity to present candidates during the next turn of the Aofin Ruling House.

The selection of Prince Oni was conducted in accordance with the community's traditional procedures, including an Ifa divination exercise, as well as the applicable legal requirements.

He subsequently emerged as the unanimous choice of the four participating kingmakers and was declared the Owa-elect of Oke-Ako Ekiti.

The state government has also authorised the publication of the legal notice confirming his appointment in the Ekiti State Government Gazette.

The emergence of a new monarch is expected to bring an end to decades of uncertainty surrounding the traditional institution and provide a fresh opportunity for the community to strengthen unity and pursue development.

The development has also been welcomed as a significant milestone for Oke-Ako residents, particularly after years of legal disputes and disagreements over the succession process.

With the appointment now approved, attention will turn to the formal installation of Prince Bamidele Oni and the beginning of his reign as the new Owa of Oke-Ako Ekiti.