The Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has dismissed reports suggesting that a new Chief Imam has been appointed for the town.
In a statement issued in Ibadan, the monarch’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaye, described the reports as “false and misleading,” urging the public to disregard them.
“The attention of the Alaafin’s Palace has been drawn to wild speculations that a new Chief Imam has been appointed for Oyo,” Durojaye said. “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.”
He explained that the process of selecting a new Chief Imam was still ongoing, with consultations aimed at ensuring fairness and due process.
“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,” the statement added.
Durojaye further stressed that the appointment of a Chief Imam in Oyo remained the exclusive preserve of the Alaafin.
The vacancy arose following the death of the previous Chief Imam, Sheikh Mashood Ajokidero, in January 2023. Since then, no successor has been formally installed.
The delay has drawn concern from some groups, including the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which criticised what it described as an “excessive delay,” noting that two years had passed without a substantive Chief Imam.
Debate has also continued over the Alaafin’s role in the process. While tradition accords the monarch significant influence in the appointment, some argue that the local Muslim community must also be actively involved.