The Alaafin of Oyo’s Palace has firmly denied claims by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, that he consulted leading traditional rulers on plans to rotate the chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
In a statement dated Thursday, January 15, 2026, the palace said the governor’s assertion did not reflect the facts, stressing that no such engagement ever took place.
The statement, signed by the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, stated that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, was never part of any meeting with Governor Makinde, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, or the Soun of Ogbomoso on the issue.
According to the palace, reports suggesting that the Alaafin agreed with or backed the idea of rotating the council’s leadership were also incorrect.
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“The Alaafin neither met with the governor nor endorsed rotational leadership of the council,” the statement said.
The palace further clarified that the Alaafin’s position on the leadership of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs had already been formally communicated to the Oyo State Government.
It explained that this position was contained in a memo submitted through the Oyo Council of Elders, which represents the collective view of relevant stakeholders in Oyo.
The statement added that the memo remains the official and unchanged position of the Alaafin and the Oyo community regarding the leadership structure of the council.
The palace emphasised that any claims of consultations or endorsements outside this documented position should not be attributed to the Alaafin.