Traditional Rulers — pre-colonial polities (pre-1879)#
Ekiti is the Pelupelu confederation of sixteen crowned Obas — historically autonomous Yoruba kingdoms tracing descent from Oduduwa's grandsons. The senior thrones are the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti (founder Awamaro, c. 1310; today HRM Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III), the Alaaye of Efon-Alaaye, the Oore of Otun-Ekiti (the "father" of the Pelupelu council), the Ajero of Ijero, Olojudo of Ido, Alawe of Ilawe, Owa of Igbara-Odo, Elekole of Ikole, Olukere of Ikere (the indigenous priest-king who pre-dates the Ogoga, the immigrant Benin-line crowned Oba — the *Olukere–Ogoga* tension is a live Ekiti question), Alara of Aramoko, Onikere of Ise, Onire of Ire, Olomuo of Omuo, Ologotun of Ogotun, Attah of Ayede, and the Owa-Obokun of Ijesa-Isu. The 1877–1893 Kiriji / Ekiti-parapo War against Ibadan imperial expansion (longest 19th-c. Yoruba war) was the formative moment of pan-Ekiti identity — ended by Governor Carter's 1893 treaty.
Colonial era (1900–1960)#
After the 1893 Carter Treaty Ekiti entered the Lagos Protectorate, then Southern Protectorate (1906), then Western Region as part of Ondo Province (capital Akure). The 1914 Iwoye-Ile riots and the 1949 Egbe Omo Oduduwa branches around Ado-Ekiti seeded the AG movement here.
Western Region Premiers (1954–1966)#
- 1954–1959 — Chief Obafemi Awolowo (AG); Ekiti returned solid AG votes.
- 1959–1966 — Chief Samuel Akintola (AG → NNDP); 1962–66 Western Crisis split Ekiti AG between Awolowo and Akintola.
Ondo State military Governors (1976–1996) — parent state#
Ekiti sat inside Ondo State (created 3 February 1976 by Murtala) until 1 October 1996. See Ondo entry for the 1976–1996 Ondo military Governors (Adekunle Lawal, Sunday Tuoyo, Akin Aduwo, Bamidele Otiko, etc.). • 1979–1983 — Chief Adekunle Ajasin (UPN, civilian Ondo Governor) — an Ekiti son (Owo/Ondo border but Ekiti-aligned in AG politics). • 1992–1993 — Bamidele Olumilua (SDP, Ondo Third-Republic civilian Governor) — an Ekiti son.
Ekiti State military Administrators (1996–1999)#
Ekiti created 1 October 1996 by Abacha (capital Ado-Ekiti). • 1996–1998 — Lt. Col. Inua Bawa (founding Military Administrator). • 1998–1999 — Navy Capt. Atanda Yusuf.
Fourth Republic civilian Governors & Deputies (1999–present)#
| Tenure | Governor | Deputy | Party | Notes | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1999–2003 | Otunba Niyi Adebayo | Paul Alabi | AD | Son of Brig. Adeyinka Adebayo (Western Region Governor 1966–71); lost 2003 to PDP. | | 2003–2006 | Ayo Fayose (1st term) | Abiodun Olujimi | PDP | Impeached 16 October 2006 in the controversial "executive impeachment" later voided by the courts. | | 16–28 Oct 2006 | Friday Aderemi (Speaker, Acting Governor) | — | PDP | 12 days. | | Oct 2006 – Apr 2007 | State of Emergency — Brig-Gen. Tunji Olurin (Sole Administrator) | — | Federal | Obasanjo declared emergency. | | 2007–2010 | Segun Oni | Olujimi Bisi | PDP | Removed by Court of Appeal 15 Oct 2010 in *Fayemi v Oni*. | | 2010–2014 | Dr. Kayode Fayemi (1st term) | Funmi Olayinka (d. 2013) / Modupe Adelabu | ACN/APC | Lost re-election to Fayose 2014. | | 2014–2018 | Ayo Fayose (2nd term) | Kolapo Olusola | PDP | "Osokomole" populist; later EFCC trial. | | 2018–2022 | Dr. Kayode Fayemi (2nd term) | Bisi Egbeyemi | APC | Chair NGF 2019–22. | | 2022–present | Biodun Oyebanji | Monisade Afuye | APC | Long-time Fayemi chief of staff. |
Sources & gaps#
Akintoye, *Revolution and Power Politics in Yorubaland 1840–1893* (1971); Ekiti Council of Obas Pelupelu records; *Fayemi v Oni* (CA 2010); *Fayose v INEC* (impeachment line of cases); INEC 1999–2022 declared results.