By Bode Akinbode
A directive by the Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters ordering the immediate coronation of selected Ibadan high chiefs has placed Senator Sarafadeen Alli on course to assume a traditional title that could end his participation in partisan politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a letter dated March 26, 2026, and addressed to the Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, directed the crowning of three high chiefs elevated within the Olubadan-in-Council.
The chiefs listed are Akeem Bolaji Adewoyin, Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli and Kola Babalola.
The Ministry said the move was in line with Ibadan traditional practices and necessary to maintain order within the chieftaincy system.
It warned that any delay in the process could give rise to unnecessary insinuations that the delay is deliberate and political, adding that the step was required to protect the integrity of the traditional institution in Ibadan land.
The coronation has been scheduled for April 3, 2026, at Mapo Hall in Ibadan.
Under customary practice in Ibadan, high chiefs who ascend to positions that qualify them for beaded crowns are expected to refrain from partisan political activities, a development that could affect Alli’s reported governorship ambition under the All Progressives Congress.
Alli currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District and has been linked with potential political contests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ministry’s directive followed a request for the compilation of a list of high chiefs and Baales eligible for beaded crowns across Ibadanland.
The government said the exercise is part of efforts to maintain proper documentation and uphold traditional structures within the state.
Chieftaincy matters remain significant in Oyo State, where traditional institutions continue to play influential roles in community leadership and governance.
The development highlights the intersection between traditional authority and political participation, particularly in Ibadan where succession and elevation within the Olubadan system follow a structured hierarchy.
The Olubadan-in-Council oversees the progression of chiefs through established lines, with elevation often carrying cultural obligations that limit involvement in active politics.
The planned coronation is expected to formalise the status of the affected chiefs within the traditional system, while potentially reshaping the political landscape in Oyo State ahead of the next election cycle.