Residents and stakeholders belonging to the Concerned Indigenes of Ikpeshi/Egbigere Clan in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State have voiced strong opposition to the recent administrative changes regarding their traditional stool, specifically the removal of Regent Nicholas Saliu Odamah III and the subsequent reinstatement of Lukeman Momodu Odamah III as the clan's traditional ruler.
The administrative back-and-forth began on November 13, 2025, when the Edo State Government, through an official directive signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, deposed Lukeman Momodu and installed Nicholas Odamah as regent while awaiting a definitive resolution over the legitimate holder of the throne. However, in a subsequent statement released on October 20, 2026, the state government reversed its stance, removing the regent and restoring Lukeman Momodu Odamah to the position.
Authorities defended the reversal by stating the action was necessary to preserve public order, maintain stability, and uphold due process. The government noted that the choice followed a careful review of appeals submitted by local stakeholders and took into account the fact that the underlying chieftaincy dispute is currently subject to ongoing litigation in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Why are the indigenes protesting the decision?
Speaking to members of the press in Benin City, the coordinator of the aggrieved community group, Ms. Peggy Agbo, urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to rescind the removal of Regent Nicholas Odamah III to safeguard communal harmony. Agbo contended that the state administration's latest directive risks undermining the peace that has prevailed in the area.
"We are appealing to Governor Monday Okpebholo, who is a man of peace, to suspend this action and reverse the decision contained in the statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government. We want peace, not war," Agbo stated during the media briefing.
She emphasized that the community enjoyed relative tranquility throughout the 11-month tenure of Nicholas Odamah's regency, cautioning that unsettling the arrangement could escalate local tensions. Furthermore, she disclosed that the group has formally petitioned the governor and the State Executive Council while also seeking judicial intervention to preserve the status quo until the matter is fully adjudicated.
What is the response from the traditional ruler?
In his reaction, the reinstated traditional ruler, Lukeman Momodu Odamah III, maintained that the government's intervention fully aligns with extant legal frameworks and established local customs. He noted that since the subject matter is already before the judiciary, public demonstrations cannot override traditional heritage and legal procedures, advising dissenting voices to allow the judicial process to reach its conclusion.