By DADA AYOKHAI
Controversy surrounds the selection of former Senator Francis Alimikhena as Okumagbe of Wanno, sparking dispute over the legitimacy of the process.
Etsako East Local Government initially confirmed Agiode Ruling House’s turn to produce the next Okumagbe, directing the selection process to be completed by January 30-31, 2026. However, the local government through a statement abruptly suspended the process indefinitely .
Dr. Francis Omoh, a candidate for the okumagbe throne disputes Senator Alimikhena’s emergence, citing the postponement announcement. “No election occurred,” Omoh stated, adding that any gathering at Igiode was likely a social event, not an election.
Dr Omoh in a disclaimer notice said
“For the avoidance of doubt, no election to fill the vacant Okumagbe stool has taken place. The authority empowered to announce the date of the election, supervise and monitor the process, and transmit the outcome to the State Government had unequivocally announced the postponement of the exercise. Any gathering that may have occurred in Igiode on the said date could only have been a social event and certainly not an election for the Okumagbe of Wanno.”
He appealed to the Agiode Ruling House, Wanno Clan, and the public to disregard claims of an election, awaiting a new selection process date in line with custom and law.
Etsako East LGA had in a letter dated January 27, 2026, formally informed the Agiode Ruling House that it is their turn to produce the next Okumagbe of Wanno.
The letter, signed by Hon. Edward Imanobe, Secretary to the Local Government, directed that the selection process be completed by January 30-31, 2026.
Again, Etsako East local government issued a statement postponing the process to fill the vacant Okumagbe stool, just before the earlier deadline expired.
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According to the letter signed by
Comr. Amb. Abass Yunusah Egbezemogie, Chief Press Secretary Etsako East Local Government, Council
dated_Friday, 30 January, 2026 said
“The Etsako East Local Government Council has announced the postponement of the process to fill the vacant stool of the Okumagbe of Uwanno Kingdom,
” the traditional selection process—expected to be conducted in accordance with the relevant laws of succession and earlier scheduled for January 31, 2026—has been suspended.
The council stated that the exercise will no longer take place as planned and will remain on hold until further notice.”
