Ogun State suspends Eselu of Iselu Kingdom over alleged partisan politics

The crown has been laid down, the beaded staff put away, and the palace gates closed behind Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Ogun State. In a dramatic twist that has shaken the Yewa North local government area, the Ogun State Government has officially suspended the traditional ruler with immediate effect, stripping him of all royal authority over allegations of diving headfirst into partisan politics.

The decision, finalized during a State Executive Council meeting, was sparked by a series of complaints accusing the monarch of taking sides in political battlegrounds—actions that were reportedly even publicized by the king himself. Under Ogun State’s customary and statutory laws, traditional rulers are strictly expected to remain neutral fathers to all subjects, regardless of their political leanings. The government warned that the Oba's alleged political activities risked demeaning the royal stool and fracturing the peace among his people.

According to an official letter dated October 20, 2026, and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, the suspension is invoked under Section 52(1) of the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law, 2021. It serves as a temporary measure while a detailed, official investigation is conducted into the monarch’s conduct.

The terms of the suspension are absolute and unyielding. The government has ordered Oba Akinyemi to:

• Vacate the palace entirely and stay away from the royal grounds for the duration of the review.
• Cease parading himself as the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom or accepting recognition as the traditional ruler.
• Strip himself of all royal paraphernalia, including beaded and non-beaded crowns, the Ileke (royal beads), the beaded staff, and the Irukere (horsetail fly-whisk).
• Remain available to appear promptly before any state government panel or meeting convened to investigate the allegations.

The directive has already been copied to the Secretary of Yewa North Local Government and the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to ensure strict compliance and maintain law and order. For now, the throne in Iselu Kingdom sits quiet and empty, waiting to see what the state's investigation will uncover.