BENIN, Edo – A new wave of tension has gripped Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State following a controversial declaration by a group known as Itsogwa, Egah/Igbidegwa, asserting that the seat of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella is vacant.

This claim has sparked a heated dispute, with the Ukhomuyio Concerned Citizens endorsing the declaration, while the Palace of the Okuokpellagbe insists the stool is occupied and warns of legal consequences for dissenters.

The Ukhomuyio Concerned Citizens, led by Moses Izeokhe, addressed journalists in Benin City on Monday, commending the Itsogwa, Egah/Igbidegwa group for declaring the Okuokpellagbe stool vacant.

They argued that the recent installation of HRH Mike Sado as Okuokpellagbe was flawed and lacked legitimacy, vowing not to recognize him as the traditional ruler.

Izeokhe stated, “The purported pronouncement indicates that there is no Okuokpellagbe in Okpella kingdom, and anyone parading himself as such does so solely based on a letter of appointment allegedly procured.”

The group further alleged that some elders and chiefs faced threats of suspension, arrest, and title removal for opposing the installation.

They also claimed that communal lands, particularly in Imioko/Imiokpe, were sold without the consent of relevant kindreds, with proceeds allegedly deposited into a private account.

“It is laughable that proceeds from Imioko/Imiokpe land are in a personal account,” Izeokhe said, referencing affidavits from 1965 by late Chiefs Giwa Inamudu and Felix Kadiri Sado, which affirmed that Okpella’s communal lands belong to kindreds.

The group expressed confidence in the judicial system, stating, “There is no cause for alarm, as our God is not asleep. We trust that our judicial system will work someday, and the real perpetrators will face justice.”

In a swift rebuttal, Barr. Akuri Afegbua, Secretary to the Palace of the Okuokpellagbe, dismissed the claims as baseless and warned that those declaring the stool vacant risk legal repercussions.

Afegbua, identifying himself as a prince of the kingdom, insisted that HRH Mike Sado’s installation complied with Section 20(3) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979, applicable in Edo State.

He stated, “That is a total lie; nothing like that has happened. The king installed is ruling perfectly without any obstacle. Any person saying the stool is vacant is a dissident.”

He further noted that challenging a traditional ruler’s appointment after the state government has issued a staff of office and gazette constitutes a crime, punishable by three years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.

The controversy follows a history of disputes over the Okuokpellagbe stool.

Earlier this year, the Edo State government, under Governor Monday Okpebholo, revoked the appointment of Engr. Lukman Akemokue as Okuokpellagbe, citing non-compliance with customary law, and initiated a new selection process that led to Sado’s emergence on May 10, 2025.

However, the Ukhomuyio community has consistently protested, alleging exclusion from the process and violations of customary law, which they claim vests nomination powers in the Komunio village of the Oteku ruling house.

As tensions escalate, stakeholders have called for calm and urged Governor Okpebholo to intervene to ensure justice and adherence to tradition, warning that the ongoing crisis could further destabilize the Okpella community.