The Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has dismissed reports circulating that a new Chief Imam has been appointed for the ancient town.
Director of Media and Publicity to the monarch, Bode Durojaye, in a statement issued in Ibadan, described the reports as false and misleading.
“The attention of the Alaafin’s Palace has been drawn to wild speculations milling around that a new Chief Imam has been appointed for Oyo.
“The good people of Oyo and members of the public are advised to disregard such unfounded, baseless and wicked information as no candidate has been chosen for the number one Islamic seat in Oyo town,” the statement read.
Durojaye explained that the process of selecting a new Chief Imam was still ongoing, stressing that consultations were being carried out to ensure fairness and wide acceptance.
“The selection of a new Chief Imam of Oyo is undergoing due process and wider consultations, and His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, the Alaafin and Paramount Ruler of Oyo Kingdom, has urged the people to remain calm and peaceful, as the rightful choice will be made in due course,” he added.
He further emphasized that the appointment of the Chief Imam remains the exclusive preserve of the Alaafin.
The position became vacant following the death of Sheikh Mashood Ajokidero in January 2023.
Since then, calls have intensified for clarity on the succession process. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) recently criticised what it described as “excessive delay,” noting that two years had passed without the appointment of a substantive Chief Imam.
Debate has also lingered over the extent of the Alaafin’s role in the appointment, with some insisting that while tradition gives the monarch a decisive say, the wider Muslim community should also be involved.
