Senator Sharafadeen Alli, representing Oyo South Senatorial District, has been elevated from Ekarun Balogun to Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland by the Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
Alli, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant for Oyo State’s 2027 election, announced the promotion in a statement shared on his X account on Saturday.
Although absent from the traditional ceremony held at the Olubadan Palace in Oke-Aremo, Ibadan, due to his performance of the Umrah pilgrimage in the Holy Land, Alli expressed profound gratitude to the monarch and the Olubadan Advisory Council.
He acknowledged the family members, traditional rulers, Mogajis, and political associates who represented him at the event.
Reflecting on his new traditional rank, Alli emphasized that the progression entails heavier duties toward the community rather than just a shift in title.
“A step up in rank is a step up in responsibility,” Alli stated, noting that the honour serves as a renewed call to foster peace, unity, and regional development.
The promotion marks the latest shift within the Balogun line of Ibadan’s traditional succession framework. Alli previously advanced to Ekarun Balogun in August 2024 and was approved for a beaded crown-wearing status by the Oyo State government earlier in 2026.