No fewer than 95 aspirants—comprising 94 princes and one princess—have formally entered the race for the vacant Awujale of Ijebuland stool, as the Fusengbuwa ruling house commenced the succession process in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The aspirants emerged on Monday at a nomination meeting of the ruling house held at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode, marking a major step in the selection of a successor to the late Oba Sikiru Adetona, who died in July 2025 at the age of 91 after a historic 65-year reign.
The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, alongside his deputy, Prince Adedokun Ajidagba, and Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, with officials of the Ijebu Ode Local Government in attendance as observers.
Notable aspirants include Giwa Abiodun Onanuga, husband of former Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga; renowned ophthalmologist and founder of Eyes Foundation Hospital, Dr Kunle Hassan; and construction magnate, Otunba Fatai Arowolo of Aron Construction. The only female contender is Mrs Oluwakemi Onanuga, a legal practitioner.
Under the nomination guidelines, each aspirant was proposed and seconded by two relatives, after which the family formally registered and accepted the nominations.
Speaking after the exercise, Otunba Owoyemi described the process as peaceful and orderly, commending members of the ruling house for their maturity and unity. He said extensive consultations, including traditional divination, were undertaken to guide the family toward producing a ruler who would further unite and advance Ijebuland.
“We have successfully and harmoniously nominated 95 candidates. It is now left for the kingmakers to conscientiously select one of them as the next Awujale,” Owoyemi said, expressing confidence that a new monarch would emerge within a month.
He added that all aspirants signed an undertaking to accept the outcome of the process and avoid litigation, assuring that the ruling house trusted the Ogun State Government to confirm the next Awujale in line with tradition and due process.
The selection process has drawn heightened public attention following the declaration of interest by popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal. The Fusengbuwa ruling house, however, has maintained that Ayinde is not a member of the family and is therefore ineligible to participate.
Ayinde had earlier approached a State High Court in Ijebu Ode seeking an interim injunction to halt the process, but the court dismissed the application for lack of merit. The suit was subsequently withdrawn, according to his counsel, Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN), to allow for a re-strategising of legal options.
In a letter dated January 8, 2026, addressed to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Shittu alleged irregularities in the nomination process, claiming that certain directives issued by the family’s Public Relations Officer conflicted with the Chieftaincy Declaration, the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State (2021), and approvals granted by the Ijebu Ode Local Government.
The letter also alleged attempts to disenfranchise some family members and exclude Ayinde from the process, warning that such actions could lead to a crisis.
However, Vice Chairman of the ruling house, Prof. Yusuf, confirmed receipt of the letter but dismissed its claims as “misguided,” insisting that the nomination exercise was valid and would not derail the succession process.
As the baton now passes to the kingmakers, attention remains firmly fixed on Ijebu Ode, where one of Nigeria’s most prestigious traditional thrones awaits a new occupant.