IBADAN—AN Oyo State High Court sitting in Ogbomoso, yesterday, upturned the appointment of the new Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye and ordered a fresh selection process to the stool.

Remember that the Oyo State government named Pastor Olaoye as the next Soun and crowned him king on September 8, 2023, following the death of Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi Agunbiade III in December 2021, at the age of 95, after a 48-year reign.

Unsatisfied with the procedure, one of the contestants, Kabir Laoye, took Ghandi Olaoye to court, claiming he was not qualified to be the next Soun.

Ghandi's appointment was contested by Olaoye, who argued that there was a defect in the procedure by which he was appointed.

Justice K.A. Adedokun, who presided over the case, determined that Oba Laoye's appointment was unconstitutional.

He also directed the judges to begin the proper procedure for electing a new Soun.

Previously, Justice Adedokun dismissed three petitions presented to him by one Adeyemi Laoye.

The petitioners are also disputing the new Soun's appointment.