A lawyer, Damilare Adenola, has faulted the declaration by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, that presidential candidates should not campaign in Osun State ahead of the 2027 general election except President Bola Tinubu.
Adenola described the monarch’s declaration as unconstitutional, arguing that no traditional ruler has the authority to restrict the constitutional rights of political candidates to campaign in any part of Nigeria.
The lawyer made his position known in a statement dated August 9, 2026, obtained by our correspondent.
He said the monarch’s declaration effectively sought to prevent presidential candidates, including Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, from campaigning in Osun State.
According to Adenola, such a restriction has no legal basis and cannot be enforced.
He cited Sections 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, freedom of movement and protection from discrimination.
“The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, recently declared at a public function that no presidential candidate should campaign in Osun State ahead of the 2027 election except President Bola Tinubu, effectively barring candidates such as Omoyele Sowore (AAC), Atiku Abubakar (ADC), Peter Obi (NDC), and Governor Seyi Makinde (APM). This is unconstitutional and cannot stand,” Adenola said.
He maintained that no individual, regardless of status or traditional authority, could lawfully prevent a presidential candidate from exercising his constitutional rights.
“Not even the President or a court can arbitrarily bar a candidate from campaigning anywhere in the country, except by lawful order after due process,” he said.
Adenola argued that the powers of traditional rulers were primarily connected to cultural and customary matters within their domains and did not extend to regulating political campaigns.
“A traditional ruler, whose authority is limited to cultural and customary matters within his domain, has no such power,” he added.
The lawyer also referred to provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly Section 99(2), which prohibits the use of state apparatus to favour or disadvantage any political party or candidate.
He said Section 99(1), which subjects political campaigns to rules made by the Independent National Electoral Commission, further demonstrates that campaign activities are governed by the electoral framework rather than the directives of traditional rulers.
“Section 99(1), which subjects campaigns to rules made by INEC, reinforces the point: it is INEC, not a monarch, that regulates how and where candidates campaign,” Adenola said.
He therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to ensure that all presidential candidates are allowed to conduct their campaigns freely in Osun State.
“Sowore, Atiku, Obi, Makinde and every other candidate remain free, as of right, to campaign in Osun State and everywhere else in Nigeria. I call on INEC and security agencies to guarantee this without hindrance,” he said.
The controversy followed a declaration by the Oluwo during the flag-off of the reconstruction of the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road by President Tinubu at Aje International Market in Osogbo.
The monarch expressed strong support for Tinubu and said other presidential candidates should not be allowed to campaign in his palace or Osun State.
“No one should promote or bring another presidential candidate for campaign in my palace and Osun State,” the monarch said.
He also expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances of securing another term and urged residents to support the President.
The declaration comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election intensify, with presidential hopefuls and political parties expected to begin expanding their campaigns and seeking support across the country.
Adenola, however, maintained that support for a particular candidate could not override the constitutional rights of other candidates and voters.
He urged relevant authorities to ensure that political activities in Osun State are conducted in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act, while calling for equal treatment of all political candidates.