Awujale Succession Dispute Deepens as Ogun Govt, Ijebu Chiefs Clash

•Legal disputes and divided kingmakers threaten succession plans

The succession crisis surrounding the vacant throne of the Awujale of Ijebuland has deepened, with the Ogun State Government and traditional chiefs locked in a dispute over the authority to administer the kingdom pending the emergence of a new monarch.

The disagreement has produced two rival administrative councils, each claiming legitimacy and the right to oversee the affairs of Ijebuland during the interregnum.

The development has also raised concerns about the succession process, with stakeholders warning that whoever emerges as the next Awujale could face prolonged legal battles.

The stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona at the age of 91. The late monarch reigned for 65 years.

However, more than a year after his death, Ijebuland is yet to settle the leadership question as disagreements over traditional customs and the applicable chieftaincy laws continue to complicate the process.

At the centre of the controversy is the interpretation of the 1957 Chiefs Law, which traditional chiefs rely on, and the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law, 2021, which the state government cites as the legal basis for its actions.

The dispute has also featured in court proceedings involving the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, particularly suits numbered HCJ/180/2025 and HCJ/149/2026.

Stakeholders fear that failure to resolve the legal disagreements could undermine the selection process and expose the eventual successor to years of litigation.

The crisis intensified after traditional chiefs in Ijebu-Ode announced the dissolution of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council (AIAC) and constituted a new body, the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council.

In a resolution signed by its chairman, Olorogun Dr Sonny Kuku, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, the chiefs declared the new council the recognised traditional administrative authority.

They said it would manage the affairs of Ijebuland until the selection and installation of a new Awujale.

The chiefs explained that their decision reflected the customs, established cultural practices and traditions governing the Awujale institution.

They maintained that the traditional framework should guide the administration of the kingdom while the throne remains vacant.

However, the Ogun State Government rejected the arrangement and subsequently reconstituted the AIAC.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, said the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council had no legal or customary recognition.

He cited the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration and the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law, 2021, as the basis for the government’s position.

Hamzat also maintained that the withdrawal of some members did not invalidate the AIAC, which the government established in August 2025.

According to him, the council remains the only legally recognised body authorised to administer Ijebuland during the interregnum.

The commissioner further cited a consent judgment in Suit No. HCJ/180/2025, which he said affirmed the AIAC’s authority.

The government’s position has, however, failed to resolve the dispute, leaving two councils claiming responsibility for the same traditional institution.

The disagreement has also exposed divisions among the kingmakers, with some prominent chiefs reportedly appearing on the membership lists of both councils.

The Olisa of Ijebu-Ode, Chief Rasheed Adesanya, and the Bobasuwa, Chief Chris Funmilola Okunowo, reportedly dissociated themselves from the mass withdrawal from the AIAC.

However, their names also featured among members of the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council, further complicating the dispute.

The division has raised questions about the ability of the Afobaje, the traditional kingmakers, to conduct a credible selection process while disagreements persist over their leadership and authority.

Meanwhile, observers and concerned members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House have called for a clear separation between the interim administration and the process of selecting the next Awujale.

A male member of the ruling house, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the interim council should focus exclusively on managing the day-to-day affairs of the palace.

He argued that the body should operate under a written and limited mandate, without powers to nominate, screen or favour any aspirant.

The source also urged the government and the ruling house to resolve whether the existing list of 95 aspirants would remain valid or whether authorities would conduct a fresh nomination exercise.

He called for a transparent process and the publication of a clear timetable to guide the emergence of the next monarch.

The source noted that Governor Dapo Abiodun had promised that a new Awujale would emerge before May 29, 2027, adding that stakeholders expected concrete steps towards fulfilling the commitment.

He also called for independent screening of aspirants following allegations of bribery and the sale of expression-of-interest forms.

According to him, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police are investigating the allegations.

He warned that failure to address the concerns could undermine public confidence in the selection process and expose the eventual monarch to further controversy.

The source further advocated intervention by eminent Ijebu elders, former judges and religious leaders to reconcile the opposing groups.

He said dialogue should produce a single recognised interim council with clearly defined responsibilities, alongside a transparent and time-bound succession process.

Stakeholders believe that resolving the disagreement requires attention to both the legal framework and the customs governing the Awujale institution.

Until the rival groups agree on who should administer Ijebuland, the succession process risks further delays, while the emergence of a new monarch could trigger fresh court challenges.