The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Adeniyi Adeola Ajakaiye, for questioning following a dispute over a chair used by Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji during a church thanksgiving service.
The controversy centres on a May 31, 2026 thanksgiving service at Babamuboni Memorial Anglican Church in Iyin-Ekiti, which Governor Oyebanji attended at the invitation of Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, an indigene of the community.
According to correspondence cited in reports, the Oluyin-in-Council later requested that the specific chair on which the governor sat be handed over to the palace for what it described as “royal custody and appropriate traditional rites.” The church reportedly declined the request.
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Palace Formalises Request
The dispute escalated through correspondence between the church and the Oluyin-in-Council.
In a letter dated June 17, 2026, the council acknowledged an earlier apology from the church concerning what it described as an “unfortunate incident” during the governor’s visit.
The council subsequently maintained its position that the chair should be surrendered to the palace. The request has attracted public attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the particular piece of furniture.
The church, through its vicar, Ven. Dr. Samuel Sunday Agunbiade, reportedly refused to hand over the chair, regarding the request as unusual.
DSS Steps In
Following the dispute, the DSS invited Oba Ajakaiye for questioning. The available reports describe the development as an invitation for questioning, rather than establishing that the monarch has been charged with any offence.
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The precise reason for the DSS intervention beyond the reported dispute over the chair has not been publicly detailed in the reports reviewed. Consequently, claims about the monarch’s motives or any alleged intended use of the chair should be treated as allegations unless confirmed by the authorities or the palace.
The incident has nevertheless generated considerable discussion about the intersection of traditional authority, religious institutions, political symbolism and customary practices in contemporary Ekiti.
The controversy also comes against the backdrop of the state’s political environment, with Oyebanji having participated in political and religious events in Iyin-Ekiti ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
A Dispute With Wider Implications
Beyond the unusual nature of the request, the episode raises questions about the boundaries between traditional customs and the authority of religious institutions over their property.
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It also demonstrates how seemingly minor disputes involving prominent political figures and traditional institutions can quickly acquire wider significance, particularly when they involve claims of customary practice.
At this stage, the DSS invitation is the clearest confirmed development. The allegations and interpretations surrounding why the chair was requested remain subject to further clarification from the DSS, the Oluyin’s palace and the Anglican Church.
