A legal practitioner, Damilare Adenola, has criticised the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, over his declaration that no presidential candidate should campaign in Osun State ahead of the 2027 general election except President Bola Tinubu.

Adenola described the monarch’s remarks as unconstitutional, insisting that no traditional ruler has the legal authority to bar any presidential candidate or political party from campaigning in any part of Nigeria.

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In a statement dated August 9, 2026, the lawyer argued that the declaration, if allowed to stand, could be interpreted as an attempt to restrict the constitutional rights of prospective presidential candidates, including Omoyele Sowore, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and others who may contest the 2027 presidential election.

“The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, recently declared at a public function that no presidential candidate should campaign in Osun State ahead of the 2027 election except President Bola Tinubu. This is unconstitutional and cannot stand,” Adenola stated.

The lawyer anchored his argument on Sections 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, freedom of movement and protection against discrimination.

According to him, those constitutional provisions protect the rights of political parties and candidates to canvass for votes across the country without unlawful interference.

Adenola stressed that neither the President nor any individual could arbitrarily prevent a candidate from campaigning in any part of Nigeria except through a lawful court order issued in accordance with due process.

“Not even the President or a court can arbitrarily bar a candidate from campaigning anywhere in the country, except by lawful order after due process. A traditional ruler, whose authority is limited to cultural and customary matters within his domain, has no such power,” he said.

The legal practitioner also cited the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that the regulation of political campaigns falls exclusively within Nigeria’s electoral legal framework and not within the powers of traditional institutions.

He referenced Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act, which empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to regulate political campaigns, and Section 99(2), which prohibits the use of state institutions or public authority to unfairly favour or disadvantage any political party or candidate.

“Section 99(1), which subjects campaigns to rules made by INEC, reinforces the point: it is INEC, not a monarch, that regulates how and where candidates campaign,” Adenola added.

The lawyer called on INEC, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure that all qualified presidential candidates are allowed to freely campaign across Osun State without intimidation or obstruction.

“Sowore, Atiku, Obi, Makinde and every other candidate remain free, as of right, to campaign in Osun State and everywhere else in Nigeria. I call on INEC and security agencies to guarantee this without hindrance,” he stated.

Adenola maintained that while traditional rulers are entitled to personal political preferences and endorsements, such support cannot override the constitutional rights of other candidates or the democratic rights of citizens.

The controversy followed comments made by the Oluwo of Iwoland during the flag-off ceremony for the reconstruction of the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road at Aje International Market, Osogbo, where the monarch openly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

During the event, Oba Akanbi declared that no other presidential candidate should be allowed to campaign in his palace or in Osun State, expressing confidence that President Tinubu would secure a second term in office.

“No one should promote or bring another presidential candidate for campaign in my palace and Osun State,” the monarch had said while urging residents to support the President.

Responding to the remarks, Adenola insisted that political activities in Osun State, like every other part of Nigeria, must be conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act, stressing that democratic rights cannot be curtailed by declarations made outside the framework of the law.