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Ekiti State government has been called upon to adhere to the rule of law in the selection process of the new Alara of Aramoko kingdom in the Ekiti South-West Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
A senior citizen, Omojola-Martins Ademulegun, made the call in an open letter to the state government made available to journalists on Tuesday.
He stated that “the selection of a new Alara of Aramoko Ekiti has become a test case for the rule of law against administrative discretion in Ekiti State.”
Ademulegun cautioned the state government against the implementation of a directive, which he described as being contrary to the existing Chieftaincy Declaration.
He said: “On the surface, the Deputy Governor’s directive that the process must now proceed only by Ifa consultation and not by voting sounds like a move to “sanitize” tradition.
“But when you place that directive side-by-side with the Registered Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration 2024 for Aramoko-Ekiti, a troubling picture emerges; the government is attempting to change the rules in the middle of the game.”
The stakeholder explained the content of the Chieftaincy law, saying, “The Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration 2024 is the legal instrument guiding the Alara stool.
“It was made on 28th March 2023, approved 17th April 2023, and gazetted in 2024. It is binding on all parties, including government.”
Speaking on the level the selection process has reached so far, Ademulegun disclosed that “on 23rd April 2026, the Kingmakers conducted screening and voting.
“Out of eight contestants from Olokun Ruling House, three scaled through via Ifa divination as required by the Declaration. The 12 Kingmakers then voted.
“Prince Tope Ademiluyi polled 6 votes. Prince Femi Akinlabi got 6 votes, while Prince Adewumi Adetoyinbo got 0 votes.”
Ademulegun revealed that government officials, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Permanent Secretary, Director, LG Chairman, and Secretary to LG, were present and supervised the exercise.
He, therefore, noted that the process had moved beyond screening into selection by voting as contemplated by the Declaration.
Ademulegun described the directive of the state government as an opinion and avenue for graft, calling for the withdrawal of the directive.
He noted the Aramoko Declaration provided for a solution if there’s a tie, adding: “The Head of Kingmakers casts the deciding vote.
Ademulegun expressed surprise that the Head of Kingmakers declined to exercise that power and called for a fresh vote.
Therefore, the stakeholder called on the state government to “Direct a return to the Declaration*: Reconvene the 12 Kingmakers under supervision.
“Enforce Article F(iv)*: Compel the Head of Kingmakers to exercise the casting vote to break the 6-6 tie, as the law mandates.
“Document everything on video for transparency, as was done during the Ifa stage.”
