The Ogun State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of the ongoing process to select a new Awujale of Ijebuland, citing security reports, stakeholder petitions, and concerns over public order, amid emerging indications of intense political maneuvering behind the scenes.
The directive was issued by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, in an official letter dated January 20, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area.
Describing the Awujale stool as one of the most revered traditional institutions in Yorubaland and Ogun State, the Commissioner noted that the legacy of the late Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years, has placed unprecedented scrutiny on both the successor and the process by which he emerges.
According to the government, several petitions, security intelligence reports, and submissions from key stakeholders raised red flags over the conduct of the selection exercise. Based on these developments, the state concluded that allowing the process to continue could threaten peace and undermine the sanctity of the throne.
Invoking provisions of the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State, 2021, the government stated that it is empowered to halt or set aside a chieftaincy appointment where it is deemed necessary in the interest of “peace, order and good government.” The Commissioner said the decision was taken proactively to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
However, sources close to the process say the official explanation masks deeper political undercurrents that had been building for weeks.
Multiple insiders point to intense intrigues, internal alignments, and alleged attempts by political actors to influence the selection. According to sources, Governor Dapo Abiodun summoned members of the Awujale Afobaje Council late on the night of January 20, with the meeting extending into the early hours of January 21. At the session, the governor reportedly informed the Afobajes that Hon. Ademorin Kuye was the preferred candidate from his party headquarters and also his personal choice, directing that the council present Kuye as the next Awujale.
The Afobajes, however, are said to have firmly rejected the directive, insisting on due process and that any communication from party headquarters should come directly, not through intermediaries. Sources say the governor expressed frustration, allegedly stating, “No Kuye, no Awujale,” but the Afobajes reportedly responded decisively, asserting that they would rather have an Ijebu without an Awujale than allow Kuye to be imposed under the guise of headquarters’ endorsement.
One Afobaje reportedly reminded the governor that Iperu his hometown remains without an Oba due to similar attempts to impose candidates in the past, highlighting a precedent of local resistance. Tensions escalated further when the Department of State Services (DSS) intervened at the Aafin Awujale palace early on January 21, preventing the Afobajes from gaining access, reportedly following a letter from the state government halting the process.
Two days before the suspension, a high-level meeting was reportedly held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, involving the governor and members of the Awujale Afobaje Council. At that meeting, the Afobajes, perceived to be largely aligned with Chief Onabanjo, a leading contender reportedly enjoying majority support among the Olórí Ẹbí and Afobaje kingmakers, allegedly informed the governor that altering the trajectory of the process would be “almost impossible” under existing dynamics.
Following the government’s directive, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government was instructed to immediately notify the Awujale Kingmakers Council and the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, with the latter advised to await further directives. Events in Ijebu-Ode escalated quickly. In a separate letter dated January 21, the Awujale Afobaje Council announced the cancellation of a planned meet-and-greet with Awujale nominees earlier scheduled to hold at the Aafin Awujale. Instead, the council, through its Secretary, Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja, directed all nominees to report to the DSS office in Ijebu-Ode by 11:00 a.m., located along NTA Road, beside the State Psychiatric Hospital, off Igbeba Road.
The letter, addressed to leading members of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, Otunba Dokun Ajidagba, and Chief Prof. Fassy Yusuf, apologised for any inconvenience caused and urged strict compliance.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Ogun State Government nor the DSS has publicly detailed the specific security concerns or petitions that necessitated the suspension. Nonetheless, analysts say the unfolding situation reflects the complex intersection of tradition, power, and modern politics surrounding one of Nigeria’s most influential royal stools.
For now, the Awujale selection process remains frozen, pending further directives from the Ogun State Executive Council, with uncertainty hanging over when and how the succession question will be resolved.
Olumide Adekunle Fashina is a Lagos-based public affairs commentator writing on power, institutions, and legitimacy in Nigeria.
