The Oyo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is said to be in a tight corner in respect of a letter from the state’s Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, which has slated the coronation of three High Chiefs for Friday, including Senator Sarafadeen Alli on April 3.

The letter dated March 26, 2026, signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Honourable Ademola Ojo, had indicated that three newly elevated chiefs in the Olubadan-in-Council, including High Chief Akeem Bolaji Adewoyin; High Chief Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, and High Chief Kola Babalola, are due to be crowned with beaded crowns and that the event would take place on April 3.

While the letter is meant to preserve tradition and promote the respective individuals, there are indications within the APC that its intents far outweigh the quest to maintain the sanctity of tradition.

This is because one of the High Chiefs set to be promoted to beaded-crown-wearing status, Senator Sarafadeen Alli, is one of the top contenders for the governorship seat in the state in the 2027 election.

In fact, reports last week indicated that some top leaders of the APC had targeted the senator who represents Oyo South in the Red Chamber as the consensus APC candidate for the February 6, 2027, polls. Though the party in the state and the camp of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had denied the adoption, it was learnt that some key members of the APC are truly rooting for the adoption of Senator Alli as the governorship candidate, with the hope that his running mate would come from the Ogbomoso axis.

But a deeper interpretation of the letter by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is said to be rupturing some tendons within the party, with some members indicating that once Alli accepts the beaded crown, he can no longer participate in partisan politics.

While sources close to the Oyo State administration said that Senator Alli was not being deliberately targeted, it was learnt that the contents of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State are being followed by the government.

Investigations had revealed that Governor Seyi Makinde signed the Oyo State Chieftaincy Amendment Bill 2023 (amending the Chiefs Law, Cap. 28, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000) into law on May 26, 2023, and that the main purpose of the law is to grant the governor autonomy (discretionary power) to present beaded crowns and coronets to qualified chiefs in the state, without needing prior consultation with the Council of Obas and Chiefs (consenting authorities) in certain cases.

It was claimed that the intention of the administration was to reduce litigation and ensure the smooth operation of the traditional council.

While signing the amendment bill into law, Governor Makinde had noted that previous reforms faced court challenges for failing to follow due process, adding that the amendment ensures compliance with the state’s rules and that it would allow the traditional council, which had been inactive before he emerged as governor, to function effectively.

Besides the amendment Act, the state has also passed into law the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Law 2025, which enabled the Council of Obas to start functioning under a rotational chairmanship regime, with the Olubadan of Ibadan assuming the first chairman for two years.

The law indicates that the position of the chairman of the Council will be rotated among the Olubadan, Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Alaafin of Oyo.

Despite the heat being generated by the planned coronation, some sources in the APC, however, said there is no cause for alarm.

“Nobody can remove the Senator from the Senate because the conditions for losing membership of the Senate are clearly spelt out in the 1999 Constitution. In the same way, we don’t believe that his right to aspire to any position in the land can be abridged. So the law is there, when we will cross the bridge while we get to the river,” a source within the party said at the weekend. (Nigerian Tribune)