The Elepe of Epe-Ekiti, Oba Ayodeji Williams Adesoye, has been chased out of his palace. Residents of the Ekiti State community seized his official vehicle. The confrontation occurred this week. It followed a land dispute that escalated after the monarch allegedly invoked Afọṣẹ, a traditional spiritual utterance believed to carry powerful consequences. The incident was captured on video and circulated on social media.
This is not the first time Oba Adesoye has faced his subjects’ anger. In December 2025, residents chased him from the palace and banished him from the community. They accused him of high-handedness, tyranny and withholding chiefs’ entitlements. The Ekiti State Government intervened. Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye mediated. In January 2026, the government placed the monarch on probation and a watch list. He was required to sign an undertaking to conduct himself well. The traditional ruler was restrained from the palace pending final settlement. The crisis was never fully resolved. The underlying land dispute continued.
The dispute centres on farmland known as Oko Oba. The monarch and the Atolagbe family have contested the land for years. In 2024, the state government resolved the dispute. It ordered all three ruling houses to release the farmland to Oba Adesoye. That resolution did not hold. The current escalation followed claims that the monarch invoked Afọṣẹ against community members. Afọṣẹ is a revered traditional utterance in Yoruba culture. People believe it makes spoken words or curses come to pass. Residents described the act as a serious taboo and an abuse of traditional authority. They accused the monarch of endangering the town's peace and stability.
The protesters seized the monarch’s official vehicle. They have vowed to continue demonstrating until the state government and the council of traditional rulers intervene. They insist Oba Adesoye is no longer fit to remain on the throne. The Ekiti State Government has not issued an official statement. The police have not announced arrests.
Winners: The protesters, who asserted their anger. The Atolagbe family, if the land dispute is revisited. No one else. Losers: Oba Adesoye, who loses his palace and vehicle. The traditional institution, which faces another crisis. Epe-Ekiti residents, who face instability. The Ekiti State Government, whose earlier mediation failed. The Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, who must intervene again.
Bottom Line: A monarch has been chased from his palace. His car was seized. The dispute is about land and tradition. The government placed him on probation once. It did not work. The underlying issue remains unresolved. Until the land dispute is settled and the monarch’s conduct is addressed, Epe-Ekiti will remain volatile. The throne is not secure. The community is not at peace.