Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Friday, February 13, 2026, elevated 14 High Chiefs and Baales in Oyo town to crown-wearing Obas. This sweeping traditional restructuring unfolded against the backdrop of a pending legal battle at the Supreme Court over one of the affected stools.
The colourful coronation ceremony, held at Oliveth Heights in Oyo West Local Government Area, saw the presentation of Staffs and Instruments of Office to the newly elevated monarchs.
The governor was represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, who described the move as part of efforts to strengthen traditional institutions as pillars of peace, culture, and grassroots development.
However, the elevation of the Alago-Oja of Ago-Oja, Oba Ganiyu Busari, comes amid a subsisting appeal before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, where the creation and recognition of the Baale Ago-Oja stool is being contested.
In a motion dated January 30, 2026, filed in Appeal No. SC/404/2018, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, is seeking interlocutory and mandatory injunctions restraining the governor and the state Attorney-General from creating, re-creating, recognising or elevating the Baale Ago-Oja chieftaincy pending the final determination of the appeal.
The suit was instituted by the late Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi III, who is asking the apex court to bar the state government from recognising Busari as Baale Ago-Oja or elevating the stool from Part III (Minor Chief) to Part II (Recognised Chief).
He is also seeking to set aside Oyo State Gazette No. 01, Vol. 50 of January 17, 2025, insofar as it relates to the disputed chieftaincy.
The motion argues that any attempt to revive or elevate a stool allegedly declared non-existent by courts of competent jurisdiction would amount to a disregard of subsisting judgments and could prejudice the pending appeal. The matter is yet to be fixed for the hearing.
Despite the legal cloud, the state proceeded with the coronation of the 14 monarchs.
Those elevated include the Alaaguo of Aguoland, Oba David Oyediran; Baba Eyaji of Oyo, Oba Afonja Mukaila; Alajagba of Oyo, Oba Samuel Odurinde; Ona-Isokun of Oyo, Oba Isiaka Tella-Titiloye; Onimileke of Imileke, Oba Fakayode Alowonle; Onigbudugbu of Gbudugbu, Oba Salawu Oyeniran; Oloodu of Ojongbodu, Oba Olaniyi Adegboye; Alapa-Ara of Apa-Ara, Oba Tijani Ajeigbe; Onidode of Idodeland, Oba Oyeleke Yusuff; Iba Samu of the Oyo Empire, Oba Lamidi Jimoh; Agbaaki of Oyo, Oba Asimiyu Jimoh; Alakeitan of Akeitan, Oba Jimoh Oyeleye; and Elepe of Iseke, Oba Abel Oyekan, alongside Busari.
Makinde, in remarks delivered by Lawal, said the elevation underscores his administration’s commitment to repositioning traditional rulers as strategic partners in governance, conflict resolution and community mobilisation. He urged the new Obas to uphold integrity, inclusiveness and support for policies aimed at improving the welfare of their people.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, described the mass coronation as historic, noting that the beaded crown symbolises sacred authority and service. He said the simultaneous elevation reflects unity and continuity within Oyo’s traditional institution.
Dignitaries at the event included the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, represented by the Asipa Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; former Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu; members of the Oyo State House of Assembly from the Oyo zone; and other political leaders.
With the legal contest over the Ago-Oja stool still pending at the apex court, the traditional reordering in Oyo town now carries not only cultural and political weight but also judicial implications.
