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By Oluseye Ojo
Oyo State has, in recent days, found itself at the centre of a layered controversy in a political climate where perception can swiftly rival reality.
The controversy, which began with a startling allegation against Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of a plot to dethrone Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, rapidly metastasised into claims of an impeachment design against Governor Seyi Makinde.
At the centre are powerful names, weighty accusations, emphatic denials, and a public left to navigate the fine line between allegation and evidence.
Fayose’s opening salvo
The chain of events was set in motion by former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, whose allegation that Governor Makinde was plotting to remove Oba Ladoja from the throne sent shockwaves through Ibadan’s socio-political landscape.
Though he levelled the allegation against Makinde without documentary proof, he delivered it with his characteristic bluntness. But Fayose’s claim seemed to have struck a nerve.
The Olubadan institution, renowned for its stability and unique succession system, is not merely a traditional stool, it is a cultural anchor. Any suggestion of interference, therefore, carries far-reaching implications.
Yet, as quickly as the allegation gained traction, it met a wall of coordinated rebuttals. Fayose also visited the residence of Oba Ladoja in Ibadan in the evening of Tuesday, April 14, 2026. He insisted that there were authentic moves by the state government to dethrone Oba Ladoja.
Palace speaks on dethronement
The Olubadan Palace wasted no time in pushing back. Speaking through his media aide, Adeola Oloko, Oba Ladoja dismissed the allegation in unequivocal terms
“There is no truth in the allegation of any plan to dethrone the Olubadan. It is a fabrication, pure and simple. Kabiyesi enjoys a cordial and respectful relationship with Governor Makinde.
“The Olubadan stool must not be dragged into partisan narratives. Those behind these rumours are only attempting to create unnecessary tension within Ibadanland.”
Government’s response
Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, reinforced the palace’s position with a carefully worded but firm rebuttal: “At no time did Governor Makinde contemplate, discuss, or approve any plan to tamper with the Olubadan stool. The claim exists only in the imagination of its promoters.
“This administration has consistently demonstrated respect for traditional institutions. We will not engage in actions capable of destabilising them.”
CCII weighs in.
The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), which is the apex socio-cultural body of Ibadan indigenes, brought institutional weight to the rebuttals.
In a strongly worded statement, the council declared, “Ibadan’s traditional system is not a political chessboard. Any attempt to portray it as such is reckless, misleading and unacceptable.”
New front opens
Just as the dethronement narrative began to lose steam under the weight of denials, a more explosive dimension emerged, which has to do with allegations of a plot to impeach Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Unlike the earlier claim, the narrative carried additional elements, including alleged clandestine meetings, promises of protection from powerful quarters, financial inducements running into billions of naira, and a promise of political office.
As alleged, the move was a coordinated effort to pressure lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly into initiating impeachment proceedings.
Ogundoyin’s revelation
The controversy reached a critical inflection point when the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, broke his silence: “I was approached with an offer to support an unconstitutional move against the governor. The inducement was in billions of naira, but I rejected it.
“Beyond the monetary inducement, there were promises of political backing and protection from powerful interests. But I made it clear that the Oyo State House of Assembly is not for sale.
“There is no impeachment plot within this House. We remain committed to the Constitution and to the mandate of the people.”
Ogundoyin’s testimony simultaneously validated the existence of external pressure and might have invalidated the claim of internal legislative complicity.
Assembly stands united
In the wake of the Speaker’s revelation, lawmakers moved to present a united front, despite an allegation that 16 among the 32-member parliament had signed in favour of the impeachment against the governor.
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Chief Whip, Gbenga Oyekola, representing Atiba State Constituency, dismissed the impeachment narrative: “There is no truth to the claim of any impeachment plot. The House is united and focused on its legislative responsibilities.”
Other members echoed similar sentiments, publicly reaffirming their loyalty to Makinde and distancing themselves from any alleged scheme.
Florence Ajimobi issues denial
Amid attempts to link political figures to the alleged plot of impeachment, wife of a former governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, issued a denial:
“I have no involvement in any plot against Governor Makinde. These allegations are baseless and unfounded.”
She maintained that the attempt to link her name to the allegations was a malicious, political propaganda aimed at bringing her into disrepute, particularly among the people of Oyo State and beyond .
“Activities of the PDP in Oyo State are of no concern to me. Linking me to such a plot could only be borne out of mischief and deliberate reverse propaganda to malign my reputation.”
Makinde’s engagement with lawmakers
Against the backdrop of rising tension, Makinde convened a meeting with members of the House of Assembly in the evening of Monday, April 13, 2026. The meeting was described as an intervention widely interpreted as both strategic and stabilising.
According to sources, the governor addressed the allegations directly while reaffirming his confidence in the legislature. He was quoted: “I have absolute confidence in this Assembly and in your integrity. We must not allow external forces to sow division among us or distract us from governance.”
The meeting reportedly concluded with lawmakers reiterating their support, effectively closing ranks around the executive.
The Presidency slant
Perhaps, the most politically sensitive strand of the controversy is the claim that the impeachment plot was being driven by interests linked to the Presidency.
While no verifiable evidence has been presented, the allegation might have nonetheless injected a national dimension into what began as a localised issue.
Political analysts cautioned that such claims, if unsubstantiated, risked inflaming tensions and undermining public trust in institutions at multiple levels.
But a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Olasunkanmi Babalola, alleged that the Presidency offered lawmakers between ₦250million and ₦1billion to facilitate the impeachment of Makinde.
He alleged that the offer was made during a meeting involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Speaker Ogundoyin in Lagos. But APC in the state described the alleged impeachment plot as fiction, created by Makinde for sympathy and distraction.
Institutions under test
Two institutions emerged as central to this unfolding drama: the Olubadan stool and the Oyo State House of Assembly. The palace, through its swift and firm response, has sought to insulate the traditional institution from political turbulence.
The Assembly, on its part, has projected unity in the face of alleged external pressure in a politically charged environment, like Ibadan and Oyo State.
Allegation and accountability
Observations revealed that a pattern has become evident in the whole controversy. Every major alleged actor named in the controversy issued a denial, and every institution implicated defended its integrity.
Oba Ladoja allegedly worked with Speaker Ogundoyin to impeach Governor Makinde, but the allegation has been dismissed as a blatant lie.
Then, there was another claim that the governor got a wind of the plot, and he was already planning to get Ogundoyin impeached as Speaker over his alleged political alignment with the king’s political camp.
Feelers said the governor contemplated using the Deputy Speaker, Mohammed Fadeyi, and the Chief Whip, Gbenga Oyekola, as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively.
Investigation revealed that Ogundoyin and the son of Oba Ladoja, Sola, have been close friends, even before Ogundoyin contemplated joining politics. But Sola Ladoja has also come out to say Ogundoyin appealed to him to help in securing royal blessing for his governorship ambition.
He added that there was no discussion of any plot to impeach the governor, when Ogundoyin visited his father, the way every political aspirant has been visiting the palace for royal blessings because Olubadan is a father to all.
He explained that the meeting was purely political and should not be misrepresented as part of any move to destabilise the state government. According to him, the claims linking the gathering to impeachment discussions are false and politically motivated, urging the public to disregard the speculation.
