The ancient town of Ipetumodu, Osun State, was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday after a meeting of princes ended in chaos over the future of the Apetumodu throne.
The dispute follows the conviction of Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, the 27th Apetumodu, who was recently sentenced in the United States to over four years in prison for COVID-19 loan fraud.
He was also ordered to forfeit assets and repay more than $4.4 million in restitution.
At the meeting held inside the palace, tensions rose when some princes demanded that Governor Ademola Adeleke be formally notified that the throne had become vacant.
The request, however, was strongly resisted by Chief Sunday Adedeji, the Asalu of Ipetumodu and the most senior surviving kingmaker.
The session, which began peacefully around 4 p.m., quickly derailed after Chief Adedeji refused to endorse the demand.
By 6 p.m., heated arguments had forced the gathering to collapse without any decision.
Prince Olaboye Ayoola of the Aribile Ruling House expressed frustration at the deadlock.
“During the meeting, we all decided that two new kingmakers should be elected to replace the deceased ones and a letter written to the governor declaring the seat vacant.
But Chief Adedeji refused, insisting we won’t do that.
He also announced he was no longer interested in being a kingmaker.
That led to chaos, and the meeting ended without any resolution,” he said.
Chief Adedeji later confirmed his withdrawal from the process, saying, “It is true. Peace has to reign first.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Oba Oloyede and a partner were found guilty of exploiting COVID-19 loan programs under the CARES Act between April 2020 and February 2022.
His August 26, 2025 sentencing has left the town unsettled, sparking calls for clarity on the stool’s future.
Osun’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde, said the state government would first secure a Certified True Copy of the U.S. judgment before taking action.
The throne tussle has deepened rivalry between Ipetumodu’s two ruling houses — Aribile and Fagbemokun.
Aribile, which produced the embattled monarch, remains split: some members argue the seat should remain theirs until Oloyede completes his sentence, while others want a fresh candidate from the family.
Meanwhile, the Fagbemokun ruling house insists it is their turn to produce the next Apetumodu.
