…Alleges manipulation, exclusion of electors in Ake Palace poll
….Warns of possible crisis reminiscent of 2021 unrest in community
The Igbore Peace and Harmony Consultative Committee has petitioned the Ogun State Government over the planned Olori Parakoyi Egba election scheduled to hold on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Ake Palace, Abeokuta, alleging irregularities and manipulation in the electoral process.
In a petition dated May 8, 2026 and addressed to the Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the committee called for the immediate suspension of the election pending the resolution of what it described as “thorny issues” surrounding the exercise.
The petition, signed by the committee’s Chairman, Professor Afolabi Soyode; Secretary, Chief Olaseni Ogunyemi; and members, Chief Olajoju Fadairo and Chief Dipo Akingbade, accused organisers of deviating from the procedures agreed upon at a township meeting.
According to the committee, a public notice earlier issued by Abeokuta South Local Government provided only one option for the selection of candidates through a township meeting arrangement.
However, the group alleged that the subsequent notice for the election failed to recognise candidates emerging from the township meeting and instead introduced the nomination of two candidates outside the agreed process.
“In an unethical twist, the notice of election did not refer to candidates from the township meeting,” the petition stated, adding that the nomination of two candidates was not a product of the community meeting earlier held.
The committee further alleged that some eligible electors were being deliberately excluded through the controversial issuance of certificates by the Ake Palace.
It claimed that several members of the community had paid for the certificates required for participation in the election but were yet to receive them, thereby disenfranchising them from the electoral process.
The petition noted that copies of payment receipts and forms filled by affected persons were attached as evidence to support the allegations raised before the ministry.
The group warned that the growing tension within the Igbore community could degenerate into violence if urgent intervention was not taken by the government and relevant authorities.
It recalled the 2021 crisis in the community which allegedly led to the closure of Ile Ogboni Igbore for several months, warning that a repeat of such unrest must be avoided.
“The Igbore Community is on edge, crisis looms because it portends a repeat of the 2021 violent crisis,” the petition read in part.
The committee therefore appealed to the state government to halt the proposed election until all disputes relating to candidate selection and elector eligibility were transparently resolved.
Copies of the petition were also forwarded to the Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, the Department of State Services, and the Executive Chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs nor officials of Abeokuta South Local Government had officially responded to the allegations contained in the petition.
