Akinbola Ruling House Rejects Akinnadeju’s Emergence, Declares Alade-Idanre Obaship Process Invalid
The Akinbola Ruling House of Alade-Idanre has dismissed the purported emergence of Chief Ayo Akinnadeju as Oba-elect, insisting that his selection is invalid and contrary to the customs and laws governing the Alade-Idanre kingdom.
In a statement issued to the public, the Akinbola family maintained that the Akinnadeju family has never been recognized or pronounced as a royal family in Alade-Idanre. The family further asserted that Chief Ayo Akinnadeju is not eligible to be presented as Oba-elect, as he does not belong to any of the two recognized ruling families of the kingdom.
The family called on the Ondo State Government, traditional authorities, and the general public to disregard what it described as an illegal and flawed selection process that purportedly produced Chief Akinnadeju.
According to the Akinbola family, the ongoing dispute over the Alade-Idanre stool dates back to the demise of the late Oba Olusegun Ayodele Akinbola in October 2020. Since then, they said, the community has been embroiled in an unresolved obaship tussle marked by repeated violations of established traditional procedures.
To address what it described as persistent illegality, the Akinbola family disclosed that it has approached the High Court of Justice of Ondo State, sitting in Akure, seeking an order to halt any unlawful selection into the revered stool of Alade-Idanre.
The family recalled that it had earlier instituted legal action against the late Engr. Alex Akinnadeju, who had previously claimed the title of Oba-elect. In that suit, the Akinbola family urged the court to nullify the process that produced him, on the grounds that he was not from any recognized ruling house in the kingdom.
Following the death of Engr. Alex Akinnadeju, the family said it filed an application before the court to substitute his name with that of Mr. Ayo Akinnadeju in Suit No: AK/218/2023, which remains pending before the court.
The Akinbola family emphasized that the late Engr. Alex Akinnadeju was never a legitimate Oba-elect, as the case challenging his emergence was still before the court at the time of his death. On this basis, the family also condemned what it described as the illegal selection of Chief Ayo Akinnadeju, insisting that he is not a member of any of the two royal families under the Lagokun Ruling House.
They further alleged that Chief Ayo Akinnadeju’s emergence was fundamentally flawed, noting that he neither belongs to the Akinbola nor the Akinboro family—both of which constitute the Lagokun Ruling House of Alade-Idanre.
In a statement made available to Coastal Renaissance News, the Akinbola family clarified that Lagokun remains the only recognized ruling house in Alade-Idanre, comprising exclusively the Akinbola and Akinboro families.
The family explained that since the Akinbola family produced the immediate past Oba, traditional rotation dictates that it is now the turn of the Akinboro family to present a candidate for the throne. However, they added that should the Akinboro family be unable to present a candidate at this time, the right of succession would revert to the Akinbola family, as both families jointly constitute the Lagokun Ruling House.
The Akinbola family urged the kingmakers to adhere strictly to tradition and due process to preserve peace and protect the sanctity of the Alade-Idanre stool.
