The Ogun State government on Wednesday once again suspended the selection process for the new Awujale of Ijebu land. Security was heightened at the Awujale palace in Ijebu Ode, with deployments from the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of 91-year-old Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years. In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, the government cited numerous petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders as the reason for halting the process.
The statement emphasized the importance of maintaining public order, protecting the integrity of the selection, and preserving the prestige of the stool. It noted that the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State 2021 empowers the government to pause appointments in the interest of peace, order, and good governance.
Around December 18, 2025, the state government had earlier stopped the selection process, citing procedural errors. The Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, confirmed that representatives of the ruling house and the Awujale Interregnum Administration Committee were summoned to a meeting to address the issues.
Previously, 95 candidates—94 princes and one princess from the Fusengbuwa ruling house—were nominated for the vacant stool at a meeting held at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode. The nomination meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, with other officials and local government observers in attendance.
Otunba Owoyemi praised family members for conducting the process peacefully and stated that the ruling house is committed to ensuring that the next Awujale will advance Ijebu land.
Notably, Fuji musician Ayinde, known as KWAM1, had expressed interest in the throne but was disqualified as he is not a member of the Fusengbuwa family. KWAM1 had also challenged the ruling house’s delegate system in court, alleging that it disenfranchised members, but his application for an injunction was dismissed.
The Ogun State government has directed the ruling house to await further instructions regarding the selection process as investigations and reviews continue.
