Public policy analyst Omojola-Martins Ademulegun has called on the Ekiti State government to respect legal procedures regarding the selection of the new Alara of Aramoko. Following the death of Oba Olu Adegoke Adeyemi in August 2025, the community has been navigating a selection process that remains ongoing.
Ademulegun criticized a recent directive from the Deputy Governor, which suggested abandoning voting in favor of Ifa consultation. He argued that this shift constitutes a change in the rules after the game has already begun, violating the Registered Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration 2024. According to the analyst, the law clearly permits voting as a mechanism to determine the king, even explicitly outlining how to handle a tie through a casting vote by the Head of Kingmakers.
Records show that on April 23, 2026, 12 kingmakers conducted a selection exercise observed by various government officials, which resulted in a 6-6 tie between two candidates. Ademulegun asserted that the government cannot simply dismiss these results or rewrite established law through policy statements. He warned that abandoning the current process in favor of new, unlegislated rules risks significant legal challenges, potential litigation, and prolonged uncertainty for the Aramoko-Ekiti throne.
The analyst urged Governor Biodun Oyebanji to ensure the rule of law prevails by reconvening the kingmakers to resolve the existing deadlock through the legally mandated casting vote. He emphasized that the sanctity of this historic Yoruba throne depends on adhering to the established declaration rather than relying on administrative discretion.
