The Edo State Government has warned all parties involved in the ongoing dispute over the Okpella traditional stool to refrain from any form of self-help, insisting that the status quo must be maintained pending the outcome of legal processes already initiated by the state.
The government said that although a recent court ruling addressed the matter, it has taken immediate legal steps to challenge the judgment through an appeal and has also begun the process of securing a stay of execution.
The state government’s reaction followed a High Court judgment delivered by Justice O. A. Otamere in Fugar, located in Etsako Central Local Government Area. The court ruled that a former monarch of the community, Lukeman Akemokue, who instituted the case, was not given a fair hearing by the state government before his appointment was revoked and Michael Sado was installed as the new traditional leader of Okpella.
The judgment has since generated tension within the community, prompting the state government to intervene and caution stakeholders against taking the law into their own hands.
Responding on behalf of the government, the Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Festus Ebea, said the government, through the office of the Attorney General, had already commenced the process of appeal and a stay of execution to challenge the court’s decision.
In a statement issued late Thursday, Ebea stressed that the government’s position was clear and unambiguous, warning that any attempt by individuals or groups to enforce the judgment on their own or disrupt the peace in the community would not be tolerated.
“The Edo State Government hereby issues a firm and unambiguous warning to all parties regarding the recent court ruling on the Okpella traditional leadership,” the statement read.
“While the Attorney General of the state has already commenced the process of appeal and stay of execution, we advise all parties to maintain the status quo to avoid any breakdown of law and order.”
The government emphasised that the preservation of peace and order in Okpella and the surrounding communities remained a top priority, adding that security agencies had been placed on alert to monitor the situation and prevent any violence or unrest.
The dispute over the Okpella traditional stool has been a sensitive issue within the community, with legal battles and administrative decisions shaping the leadership structure in recent years. Observers say the situation has occasionally created tension among supporters of the different claimants to the stool.
Legal experts say the government’s decision to file an appeal and seek a stay of execution means that the current situation should remain unchanged until a higher court reviews the case and delivers a final judgment. This process, they noted, is a standard legal procedure aimed at preventing confusion or conflict while a case is still being contested.
Community leaders and stakeholders have been urged to remain calm and allow the legal process to run its course. The government reiterated that respect for the rule of law is essential and warned that anyone found instigating violence or attempting to disrupt public peace would face the full weight of the law.
The development has drawn attention across Edo State, as traditional institutions play a significant role in community leadership, cultural preservation, and local administration. As a result, disputes over traditional stools are often treated with caution by governments to avoid escalation into communal conflict.
For now, residents of Okpella and observers across the state are watching closely as the legal process continues. The final outcome of the appeal is expected to determine the future of the traditional leadership in the community, but until then, the Edo State Government has made it clear that the status quo must be maintained and that peace and order must not be compromised.
