The succession process for the Awujale of Ijebuland has taken a legal turn following a lawsuit filed by Fuji music icon, Otunba Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, challenging the procedure for selecting a new monarch.
Ayinde approached the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode on December 16, seeking an injunction to suspend all actions relating to the nomination and installation of a new Awujale. He argued that the process violated established chieftaincy laws and threatened his rights as a qualified contender for the throne.
Named as defendants in the suit are the Ogun State Governor, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Secretary of the Ijebu-Ode Local Government, the Chairman of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, and the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
In his filing, Ayinde claimed membership of both the Fusengbuwa and Fidipote ruling houses, insisting that irregularities in the selection process could unfairly exclude him. He alleged that the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, which he described as lacking legal backing, was improperly influencing the nomination exercise in contravention of Ogun State chieftaincy laws.
A key issue raised in the suit is the alleged failure of the Ijebu-Ode Local Government to formally publish the names of the 13 recognised kingmakers before commencing the selection process, a step Ayinde said is mandatory under the law.
The legal action follows the vacancy created by the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona in July at the age of 91, after a reign spanning over six decades. Earlier this month, Ayinde publicly declared his interest in the Awujale stool, igniting debates over his ancestry and eligibility. He has maintained that his royal lineage was affirmed by the late monarch, who conferred on him the title of Olori Omo-Oba.
Shortly after the suit was filed, the Ogun State Government announced the cancellation of the ongoing selection process. The Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, confirmed that the government ordered a restart of the process after identifying procedural lapses that could lead to legal disputes.
According to Yusuf, the initial directive giving the ruling house 14 days to submit candidates has been withdrawn, with assurances that the process will recommence in full compliance with the Obas and Chiefs Law.
A senior government official, speaking anonymously, said the intervention was intended to correct flaws in how the process was initiated by the local government and to avert protracted litigation.
Meanwhile, the Fidipote Ruling House—historically linked to KWAM 1—has formally laid claim to the right to present candidates for the throne. The family argued that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House failed to submit nominees within the statutory 14-day window, thereby transferring the right of nomination to the next ruling house under the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, 2021.
