The leadership of the Association of Mogajis in Ibadanland has denied authorising any political endorsement involving Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and Bimbo Adekanmbi ahead of the 2027 elections.
The clarification followed the circulation of a video on social media in which some individuals identified as Mogajis were seen purportedly expressing support for Makinde as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Adekanmbi as the party’s governorship candidate.
Reacting to the development, the leadership of the Mogajis said the position expressed in the video could not be regarded as the decision of Ibadanland or its recognised traditional institutions.
The Association of Mogajis in Ibadanland, alongside the Ibadan Compounds Peace Initiatives (ICPI), said no collective endorsement of the kind had been approved by the appropriate leadership structures.
The position was made known in a joint statement signed by Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori, President of the Association of Mogajis in Ibadanland, and Mogaji Dr Nurudeen Akinade, Coordinator of the ICPI.
The two leaders maintained that the association was not part of the process that reportedly produced the endorsement.
They explained that the Association of Mogajis, which has over 400 members under Ariori’s leadership, was not consulted before the declaration surfaced publicly.
According to them, the absence of consultation with the association meant that the purported declaration could not legitimately be presented as a decision of the Mogajis in Ibadanland.
The leaders also drew a distinction between the actions of individuals and the official position of recognised traditional and community leadership bodies.
They said the fact that some persons may have appeared in a video making political statements should not be interpreted as an endorsement by Ibadanland as a whole.
The statement further disclosed that several key institutions and traditional authorities were not involved in the purported declaration.
Among those listed were the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and Baales spread across Ibadanland.
“The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Olubadan-in-Council and CCII, including all Baales in Ibadanland, don’t know anything about the endorsement,” the leaders stated.
The clarification comes at a time when political activities are gradually gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, with politicians and political groups seeking to build alliances and secure support from influential individuals and community organisations.
Against that backdrop, endorsements attributed to traditional or community leaders can attract significant public attention, particularly when they are circulated through social media platforms.
The Mogajis’ leadership therefore warned against attaching the name of Ibadanland to political declarations without the involvement of the recognised authorities responsible for representing the interests of the wider community.
They urged members of the public to disregard the viral video as a representation of the collective position of Ibadanland.
The leaders also appealed to those behind the purported declaration to avoid actions that could create unnecessary tension or misunderstanding in the state.
They stressed the need for political activities to be conducted in a manner that would preserve the existing peace among communities and political stakeholders.
Rather than allowing the development to become a source of controversy, the traditional representatives called for restraint from all sides as preparations for the next election continue.
Their position was that political preferences may differ among individuals, but such personal choices should not automatically be presented as the official decision of established traditional institutions.
The statement also sought to reaffirm the relevance of the recognised structures through which collective positions affecting Ibadanland are communicated.
By distancing themselves from the viral footage, the Mogajis and ICPI said the public should wait for authorised statements when determining the position of Ibadanland’s traditional and community leadership on political matters.
The leaders maintained that no endorsement involving Makinde and Adekanmbi had been sanctioned by the Association of Mogajis in Ibadanland.
They further reiterated that the Olubadan, Olubadan-in-Council, CCII and Baales were not involved in the purported declaration.
They consequently urged residents, political actors and social media users to exercise caution before sharing or interpreting the video as evidence of an official political decision by Ibadanland.
As the 2027 political season approaches, the leaders said maintaining peace and unity should remain a priority, regardless of the political interests or affiliations of individuals and groups.
They concluded that the viral video should not be used to suggest that Ibadanland’s recognised traditional institutions had collectively endorsed any candidate or political arrangement ahead of the 2027 elections.
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