The council of kingmakers in Aramoko‑Ekiti, Ekiti State, formally appealed on Monday to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, requesting his intervention in the six‑month‑long deadlock over the selection of a new Alara of Aramoko‑Ekiti. The appeal seeks to compel Governor Biodun Oyebanji to permit the council to reconvene and complete the appointment process, which has been halted since April 2026.
**Key facts**
- The selection exercise began in April 2026 under the Alara‑in‑Council, following the Alara of Aramoko Chieftaincy Declaration and the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law.
- Three princes were shortlisted after an Ifa divination performed by the renowned priest Baba Araba Elebuibon.
- Voting by the twelve kingmakers resulted in a six‑to‑six tie, prompting a planned second round that was subsequently suspended by the state Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs.
- The council’s statement, signed by head Julius Oladiran Adebayo and secretary Kolade Oyebade (also known as Sajowa), warns that the prolonged vacancy is unsettling local youths and disrupting traditional festivals.
- In the letter, the kingmakers describe Aramoko‑Ekiti as a town founded by descendants of Oduduwa, maintaining an unbroken cultural and spiritual link with Ile‑Ife.
**Why has the Alara stool remained vacant?**
The initial round of voting produced an exact tie, and the council expected a runoff to break the stalemate. However, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs postponed the second ballot, leaving the community without a recognized traditional ruler for six months.
**What role does the Ooni of Ife play?**
The Ooni, regarded as the paramount custodian of Yoruba culture, is being asked to use his moral authority to persuade the governor to lift the suspension. The kingmakers argue that the Alara stool is not merely a local institution but a component of the broader Yoruba heritage that falls under the Ooni’s spiritual jurisdiction.
**What is at stake for the community?**
Council members warned that the absence of an Alara has caused restiveness among youths and halted customary rites and festivals that are central to the town’s identity. They appealed directly, addressing the Ooni as “Kabiyesi,” and pleaded for his assistance to restore normalcy.
**The council’s request to the Ooni**
"Kabiyesi, we are constrained to run to you as our father and the custodian of Yoruba culture. The stool of Alara remains vacant. Our youths are restive. Our traditional festivals and rites cannot hold," the statement read. The kingmakers further urged the Ooni to intercede with Governor Oyebanji, asking for immediate permission to reconvene and finalize the selection in line with the law.
**Outlook**
The council expressed confidence that the Ooni’s involvement would lead to a peaceful resolution and reiterated the need for the governor to respect the legal and cultural frameworks governing the appointment of the new Alara.