An Akure High Court today, 15th December, 2025, ordered Ijare Kingmakers, led by High Chief Wemimo, the Sapetu of Ijare, to immediately resume the process of electing a new Olujare of Ijare, using the list of thirteen candidates validly produced by representatives of Sejeokun Ruling House, the sole ruling house, on 22nd August, 2022.
The judge also ordered the Ifedore Local Government and the Ondo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to recognise the list of thirteen candidates, as the valid list, while he pooh-poohed the list of four candidates purportedly and curiously procured by some elements as part of the general shadow-chasing.
In separate rulings, the judgement recognised Chief Aarinmo, Oluwole Oni, as the undisputable Head of the Sejeokun Ruling House, thereby declaring his purported suspension by a group within the Ruling House as null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.
Relying on the plethora of documents before him, and the Ijare Chieftancy declaration law of 1996, the judge traced the link the Olukekere Descendants of the Sejeokun Ruling House has to the Olujare Stool, and declared Prince Kola Oyewole as a valid candidate, frowning at any attempt at excluding any of the candidates, which he claimed amounted to a violation of the Olujare Chieftancy law.
It will be recalled that the Olujare Stool became vacant in 2021, following the death of Engr. Adebamigbe Oluwagbemigun, Kokotiri II.
The process of selecting a candidate to fill the vacant stool was stalled when a group within the Ruling House allegedly suspended the Head of the Omowas, and excluded the names of some candidates in a list curiously and fraudulently produced.
The Olukekere stuck of the Ruling House, thereafter approached an Akure High Court to seek three reliefs: an order declaring the purported suspension of Chief Aarinmo null and void; an order recognising the Olukekere/ Aarinmo/Okobitilaya stuck of Sejeokun as having the right to aspire to the Olujare Stool, and an order recognising the list of thirteen candidates as the valid list for the Kingmakers to work on.
The judge however said he decided not to award any cost because the matter has to do with a family.
With all these issues resolved, the Kingmakers are expected to act on the list of thirteen candidates, as soon as they receive the go-ahead from Ifedore Local Government and Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs.
All other things being equal, the ancient town of Ijare will soon put all the avoidable controversies relating to the selection of a new Olujare behind it, and march on to progress.
