By Salam Saheed
The succession contest for the vacant stool of the Baale Iya of Saki has gathered momentum, with Saki West Local Government fixing Wednesday, November 4, 2026, for a nomination meeting, as four aspirants have emerged from the three ruling houses associated with the traditional institution.
The meeting, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at Olowoapo Hall, behind the Baale Iya Palace, Iya Area, Saki, is expected to mark a significant stage in the process of filling the vacant traditional stool following the emergence of competing interests within the chieftaincy family.
The invitation was conveyed in a letter dated October 19, 2026, with reference number SWLG/2273/55, addressed to contenders, formally requesting his participation in the nomination meeting.
The letter was signed by Alhaji Amusat Elesin, Mogaji Baale Iya, Saki.
Meanwhile, the succession contest has produced four aspirants drawn from the Olagbenro, Olubodun and Oyebisi ruling houses, following the inability of interested family members to reach a consensus on a preferred candidate.
The aspirants are Jimoh Nafiu Elesin,Waheed Musbau Akanji, Jimoh Rasaq Olubodun, Waheed Musbau Akanji, and Abdullateef Jeleel Ojo.
While Akanji and Elesin are from the Olagbenro ruling house, Olubodun and Ojo belong to the Oyebisi ruling house. Akanji and Elesin are also said to share the same father but have different mothers.
The emergence of the four contenders has brought the question of an acceptable selection mechanism to the forefront, with a delegate-based voting arrangement being considered as a possible means of resolving the competing interests.
Under the proposed arrangement, each aspirant’s family is expected to produce five delegates, bringing the anticipated number of participants in the voting exercise to 20.
However, the modalities for selecting the delegates, determining their voting pattern and conducting the exercise are yet to be conclusively agreed upon by the concerned family members.
Earlier deliberations were expected to provide an opportunity for members of the chieftaincy family to harmonise their positions, reconcile divergent interests and establish a mutually acceptable procedure for producing a successor.
The November 4 meeting is therefore expected to provide a formal platform for the nomination process, while the relevant family interests and traditional stakeholders are expected to play their respective roles in accordance with the applicable customary procedures.
It would be recalled that Saki West Local Government Council had, in a public notice dated October 19, 2026, given the Baale Iya Chieftaincy family 14 days to nominate and select a suitable candidate to fill the vacant stool.
The notice, with reference number SWLG/2273/55, was issued pursuant to Section 15 (1)(a) and Section 15 (2)(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000.
The council directed that the nomination and selection process be undertaken through the family head, with the name of the successful candidate forwarded to the Executive Chairman of Saki West Local Government for onward transmission to the Oyo State Government for consideration and approval.
It also explained that, in the absence of a registered or valid declaration governing the Baale Iya Chieftaincy stool, the process would be conducted in accordance with native customary law, as provided under Section 34 (1)(a) of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000.
The council had initially stipulated November 2, 2026, as the deadline for submission of the nominee’s name.
The stool became vacant following the death of the late Baale Iya of Saki, Alhaji Raheem Aiki Boorepo, popularly known as Chief Boorepo.
With four aspirants already in contention and the local government now fixing a formal nomination meeting, attention is focused on how the family will navigate the competing interests, establish an acceptable selection procedure and produce a successor to the late traditional titleholder.