Ikpeshi Elders Petition Okpebholo Over Prolonged Chieftaincy Crisis

Elders from the Ikpeshi/Egbigere Clan in Nigeria's Edo State have formally appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo for his intervention in a protracted chieftaincy dispute that has fractured their community. The elders' petition, dated August 10, 2026, paints a grim picture of a community gripped by tension and marked by the displacement of residents from their homes.

Under the title “'Save Our Soul' Cry to His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo to Rescue Ikpeshi People from Oppression and Victimization,” the clan's most senior members detailed the long-standing conflict over the traditional rulership of the Zaiki stool. They cited a complex web of court cases, including appeals reaching the Supreme Court, and recent judgments from 2019 and 2025, underscoring the legal entanglements that have failed to resolve the issue.

The petition also brought to the governor's attention a June 19, 2025 crisis and subsequent criminal proceedings, along with the recent August 6, 2026 arrest and detention of two community members, Ezomo Adekobi and Taiye Umoru, at the Edo State Police Headquarters. The elders urged Governor Okpebholo to review the situation, protect residents' rights and safety, and facilitate the return of displaced individuals to their homes and businesses. They expressed readiness to provide further documentation to aid the governor's understanding and resolution of the matter.