The people of Araromi-Ekiti, in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, have rejected the selection of Prince Adebomi Babalola as the traditional ruler of the community.
Similarly, the people of the community also alleged interference and imposition of Prince Babalola on the town by the Ekiti State Government.
The people spoke during a Press Conference in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday said the government allegedly gone against the wish of the town and forcibly announced the name Prince Adebomi Babalola, despite the case still pending at the Federal High Court in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Two of the contestants who spoke during the press conference alledged the Ekiti State Government of working in cahoots with a First Class Traditional Ruler in Ijero Council to forcebly install Prince Babalola against the wish of the town.
One of the leading contestants Prince Adeniyi Babalola, from Odimulele rulling house, said the people of the community in their unanimously decisions rejected the purported approval of Prince Adebomi Babalola, by the Ekiti State Government.
Describing the purported approval as a breach of court contempt, explained that the case of his earlier nomination was challenged by one of the rulling house in the town, the case which he said is currently pending in the Federal High Court Akure, before the government went ahead and reapproved the nomination.
Also speaking, Another Prince in the town, Afolayan Ademola, accused the government of breaching the court order and the norms guiding the rotation of obaship title in the town.
He explained that Prince Adebomi Babalola who is currently facing certificate forging allegation in the court was said to have used fake result and certificate to secured employment under Ekiti State government.
We appeal to the government as a matter or urgency to reverse ots decision and and allow the kingmakers in the town to begin the selection of new king in the town.
“This is quite unfortunately, that the government of Mr Biodun Oyebanji failed to accept the people’s wish, despite the overwhelming support shown by the people of the town in 2022 while soliciting for their votes.
“We hereby urge the Governor to reverse the process and order a legal review of our demands and approve our request as contained in the kingmakers’ report and their letters requesting for selection of new Oba from Odimulele ruling house or allow the two ruling houses to participate in the process”, he said.