Three princes from the Baale Iya Chieftaincy family in Saki, Oyo State, have formally challenged the nomination and emergence of Prince Jimoh Nafiu Elesin as the Baale Iya designate, alleging irregularities and violation of the customary procedure governing the selection of the traditional titleholder.
The aggrieved princes, Prince Waidi Musbau Akanji, Prince Abdullateef Ojo and Prince (Hon.) Rasaq Olubayo Olubodun, through their solicitor, Alhaji K. A. Adegoke, made their position known in a three-page petition addressed to the Chairman of Saki West Local Government.
In the petition dated November 2026, the contestants urged the local government to set aside the purported nomination and appointment of Elesin, describing the exercise as unlawful and contrary to the provisions of Section 34(1) of the Chiefs Law, Cap. 25, 2000, as amended.
According to the petition, the local government, through a letter dated November 5, 2026, with reference number SWLG/2273/75, invited the contestants to the council secretariat to agree on a date for the nomination of candidates to fill the vacant Baale Iya stool.
The nomination exercise was subsequently fixed for November 10, 2026.
Allegations
However, the solicitor alleged that the exercise, which ought to have been conducted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Chiefs Law and the customary practices of the chieftaincy, was allegedly truncated by an official of the local government, identified as Abdulazeez A. I., and Prince Hamzat Adedibu Elesin.
Recounting what transpired during the exercise, Adegoke stated that the local government official initially brought ballot papers and attempted to conduct an election before opposition from some family members led to a change in the procedure.
He said 17 candidates were eventually nominated by members of the chieftaincy family, adding that while other contestants reportedly stepped down in favour of Prince Jimoh Nafiu Elesin, his clients refused to withdraw from the contest.
Petition
The petition further alleged that after attempts to persuade the three contestants to step down failed, the local government official handed the microphone to Prince Hamzat Adedibu Elesin, who subsequently announced Prince Jimoh Nafiu Elesin as the new Baale Iya of Saki.
Adegoke described the development as an infringement on the rights of his clients and an alleged usurpation of the traditional authority of the Okere of Sakiland.
He maintained that the customary procedure governing the Baale Iya stool requires the chieftaincy family to nominate candidates whose names would be forwarded to the Okere of Saki for consideration and final appointment.
According to him, where more than one candidate emerges from the family nomination exercise, the names of all the nominated candidates should be forwarded to the traditional ruler, who would exercise his authority in selecting the person to occupy the stool.
Stipulation
The solicitor stated, “The customary law applicable to Baale Iya Chieftaincy stool is that, when the stool is vacant, the family will meet to nominate candidate or candidates. Where candidates are nominated, their names will be forwarded to the appointing authority, which is the current and ruling Okere.”
He added that the traditional ruler, Oba (Dr.) Surv. Khalid Oyeniyi Olabisi Oyedepo III, remains the appointing authority, arguing that neither the local government official nor Prince Hamzat Adedibu Elesin had the authority to independently announce or appoint anyone to the stool.
Citing Section 34(1) of the Chiefs Law, the petition also argued that a vacant recognised chieftaincy stool should be filled in accordance with the customary law applicable to the particular chieftaincy.
The petitioners consequently urged the council chairman to declare the purported nomination and appointment of Prince Jimoh Nafiu Elesin null and void.
They also requested that the four candidates, namely Prince Waidi Musbau Akanji, Prince Abdullateef Ojo, Prince Rasaq Olubayo Olubodun and Prince Jimoh Nafiu Elesin, be forwarded to the Okere of Sakiland for consideration and appointment.
Additionally, they called for the constitution of a panel of inquiry to investigate the conduct of the local government official, Abdulazeez A. I., whom they accused of undermining the authority of the council in the handling of the nomination exercise.
The petition warned that allowing the disputed process to stand could undermine the traditional institution, the cultural heritage of Saki and the reputation of the parties involved.
Copies of the petition were also sent to the Oyo State Governor, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, the Divisional Police Officer, Saki, and the Okere of Sakiland.
Credit: kakakiokeogunnews.blogspot.com
