Alara stool: Stakeholders reject fresh Ifa consultation, seek conclusion of selection process

A broad coalition of stakeholders in Aramoko-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State, has rejected calls for a fresh Ifa divination in the ongoing selection process for the vacant Alara of Aramoko stool.

They insisted that the exercise conducted on April 23, 2026 remains valid and should form the basis for the emergence of the new traditional ruler.

The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting held where community leaders, traditional chiefs, professionals, religious leaders, women, youths and other eminent sons and daughters of the town unanimously called on the state government to facilitate the conclusion of the selection process through voting by the kingmakers in line with the extant Chieftaincy Declaration.

The meeting, presided over by the Regent of Aramoko-Ekiti, Her Royal Highness, Adekemi Sherifat Owolabi (née Adeyemi), was attended by High Chiefs and other traditional title holders led by the Asao of Aramoko, High Chief Oladiran Adebayo.

Other people who attended the meeting include representatives of the Aramoko Development Association (ADA), retired public servants, academics, political leaders, market leaders, youth and women representatives, religious leaders and other stakeholders.

The communiqué was endorsed by representatives of various segments of the community, including the Sajowa of Aramoko, High Chief Oyebade Kolade; vice president of the Aramoko Development Association, Chief Abiodun Ilori; chairman of the Aramoko Steering Committee, Elder Oladunjoye Ayeni; Youth Leader, Comrade Sesan Abegunde; Chief Mrs. Comfort Taiwo Eyelaye; member representing Ekiti West Constituency I in the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

Others include, Hon. Kareem Abegunde; former deputy speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Gbenga Olabode; Chief Imam of Aramoko, Sheikh Abdul Raheem Bamigbola; chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Aramoko chapter, Apostle Mathew Afolayan; and Mr. Bolaji Ayomide, representing traditional worshippers.

The gathering was coordinated by the vice president of the Aramoko Development Association, Chief Abiodun Ilori.

The stakeholders recalled that the selection process for the Alara stool commenced on April 23 with an Ifa consultation involving eight eligible princes in accordance with the customary procedures governing succession to the throne.

According to the communiqué, the exercise produced three qualified princes for further consideration by the kingmakers, but the subsequent voting ended in a tie between two of the candidates, leading to the adjournment of the process.

Briefing the meeting, the Head of the Kingmakers and Asao of Aramoko, High Chief Oladiran Adebayo, disclosed that after the inconclusive exercise, the kingmakers were invited to a meeting by the office of the deputy governor of Ekiti State.

He said the government expressed the view that a fresh Ifa consultation should be conducted and proposed bringing in another Ifa priest to carry out a new divination, which would be regarded as final, while also indicating that the kingmakers would no longer be required to vote before the emergence of the next Alara.

However, after extensive deliberations, the stakeholders unanimously rejected the proposal, maintaining that there was no legal or customary basis for another Ifa consultation.

They argued that the April 23 exercise was supervised by the Ekiti State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs and conducted in a transparent manner in strict compliance with the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration 2024 and the customary laws regulating the selection of the Alara.

They further recalled that at the conclusion of the exercise, the commissioner publicly commended the peaceful conduct of the process and praised the people of Aramoko-Ekiti for their cooperation, describing the exercise as credible and transparent.

The meeting therefore reaffirmed that the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration 2024, enacted pursuant to Section 1(2)(b) of the Chiefs Law of Ekiti State, alongside the customary laws guiding the selection of the Alara, remains the only applicable legal framework for the process.

Consequently, the stakeholders resolved that the outcome of the April 23 Ifa consultation should be upheld as valid and binding, having successfully produced the three eligible princes from whom the next Alara should emerge through voting by the duly constituted kingmakers, as stipulated under Part F (vi) and (vii) of the Chieftaincy Declaration.

In her closing remarks, the Regent expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for their commitment to the unity, peace and development of the community.

She urged all sons and daughters of the town to remain peaceful, law-abiding and united as the selection process enters its final stage, expressing optimism that the community would soon witness the successful emergence of a new Alara.