Awujale Succession: Fresh Crisis Hits Fusengbuwa Ruling House as New Faction Demands New Process
admin A fresh disagreement has emerged within the Fusengbuwa Ruling House over the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
A group of members of the ruling house met on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Ule Nla Agunsebi Hall, Ijebu-Ode, where Omooba Otukayode Hakeem Otufale was presented as the group’s Olori-Ebi.
The group called for a fresh and transparent selection process, saying the process should be guided strictly by the applicable rules and traditional declaration.
It is important to note that the position expressed at the meeting represents the faction that attended the gathering and should not be taken as the position of the entire Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
A separate leadership led by Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi continues to maintain its authority over the ruling house and has taken the matter to court.
Group Questions Earlier Selection Process
Speaking on behalf of the new group, Otunba Kehinde Alebiosun raised questions about the earlier nomination and screening exercise.
The group alleged that there were disagreements among officials involved in the process and that some aspirants were not allowed to participate in certain stages.
It also questioned how 86 names were reportedly submitted to the Awujale Kingmakers, arguing that the screening process had not been properly concluded.
The allegations were made by members of the September 20 group and have not been independently established.
Concerns Over Screening and Lineage
The group also raised concerns about the classification of some aspirants under different family lineages.
According to the group, questions were raised about the explanation that aspirants were prevented from attending an earlier meeting at Bisrod Hall because of a security report.
The group said it requested to see the report but was not provided with it.
It further alleged that some aspirants later complained about how they were classified, with the group claiming that nine aspirants and Prince Adekoye raised concerns over their lineage classification.
These claims remain disputed and would require documentary evidence and responses from the persons involved.
Allegations Over Money Collected From Aspirants
The new group also raised questions about alleged payments made by aspirants during the selection process.
Otufale alleged that proper records had not been provided to show the amount collected, where the money was paid or whether any refunds had been made.
He also claimed that the group understood that the government had directed that money collected from aspirants should be refunded.
The group stressed its position that the Awujale stool should not be treated as something that can be bought.
However, no independent evidence confirming the alleged payments, the amounts involved or the status of any refund was available in the material reviewed for this report.
Court Case Remains Pending
The latest development comes as a separate legal battle over the Awujale succession is already before the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode.
Suit No. HCJ/149/2026, filed on August 21, 2026, was brought by members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, including its chairman, deputy chairman and vice chairman, against Governor Dapo Abiodun, the nine Awujale Kingmakers and other defendants.
The case concerns the suspension of the succession process and seeks court orders relating to the continuation of the selection exercise.
On September 2, 2026, Justice A.A. Omoniyi of the Ogun State High Court, sitting in Court 3, returned the case file to the administrative judge for reassignment because of his impending annual vacation.
The matter was subsequently fixed for September 23, 2026, for further hearing.
The court has not, based on the information reviewed, determined which faction represents the Fusengbuwa Ruling House or who should become the next Awujale.
Another Suit Over Fusengbuwa Leadership
The dispute within the ruling house has also produced another court case.
Members of the existing leadership filed Suit No. HCJ/167/2026 on September 16, 2026, against 12 members of the family.
The claimants include Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, Otunba Dokun Ajidagba, Prof. Fassy Yusuf and Pastor Jeremiah Salami.
The case concerns allegations that some members of the family were attempting to present themselves as leaders of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House or interfere with the existing leadership structure.
The development has therefore created a separate legal question over who has the authority to speak and act on behalf of the ruling house.
“Our Candidate Is the 1957 Declaration”
At the September 20 meeting, the new group said its main concern was not the personal achievements or popularity of individual aspirants but compliance with the traditional rules governing the Awujale succession.
The group repeatedly referred to the 1957 Declaration, with the statement:
“My candidate is the 1957 Declaration.”
The group also proposed that aspirants should appear at the Oshi Fusengbuwa Shrine to establish their male-line ancestry and swear an affidavit concerning their lineage.
Whether this proposed procedure forms part of the legally recognised selection process remains a matter for the appropriate authorities and, where necessary, the courts to determine.
Succession Dispute Deepens
The Awujale stool has remained vacant since the death of the late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona in July 2025 after 65 years on the throne. The Ogun State Government later halted the selection process amid petitions and other concerns.
The latest development means that the succession issue is now involving several connected questions, including the leadership of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, the screening of aspirants, lineage verification, the role of the Kingmakers and the status of the earlier nomination exercise.
While the new faction is calling for a fresh process based on the traditional rules, the leadership headed by Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi maintains its position and has taken legal steps to defend its authority.
With HCJ/149/2026 scheduled for September 23 and HCJ/167/2026 also before the court, the legal proceedings are expected to play an important role in determining the next stage of the dispute.
For now, the allegations concerning screening, payments, lineage classification and the authority of the competing factions remain matters in dispute and have not been finally determined by the court.
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Ayo Marvel 
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