Awujale Crisis: What Governor Dapo Abiodun Must Do Next

By Olugbenga Adebamiwa

The ongoing controversy surrounding the succession to the Awujale of Ijebuland throne has intensified following repeated interventions by the Ogun State Government under Governor Dapo Abiodun. Beyond administrative questions, these actions raise serious legal and traditional concerns, particularly regarding compliance with the 1957 Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration and the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law of 2021. The period from December 2025 to January 2026 has witnessed petitions, inter-house disputes, procedural irregularities, and government suspensions that have deepened uncertainty, highlighting the need for a structured, transparent, and legally sound approach to resolving the succession.

At the heart of the controversy is the 1957 Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration, which preserves Ijebu customary law for selecting the Awujale. This Declaration recognizes four ruling houses, Gbelegbuwa, Anikinaiya, Fusengbuwa, and Fidipote, and establishes a rotational system of succession. Only legitimate male descendants of the entitled house may be nominated, with selection overseen by a council of kingmakers who conduct customary rituals and seek consensus to prevent discord. The Declaration carries legal force, deviations or arbitrary alterations can invalidate the succession process and expose it to litigation. Complementing this, the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law 2021 integrates traditional practices into the modern legal framework, setting timelines for nominations, providing for inter-house rotation in cases of forfeiture, and granting the Executive Council authority to intervene for peace and order. Critically, these laws emphasize transparency, fairness, and constitutional rights, ensuring that no candidate is excluded without proper process.

Despite these frameworks, the succession process has been marred by procedural lapses and inter-house disputes. The Fusengbuwa Ruling House, next in rotation after the late Oba Sikiru Adetona from Anikinaiya, was formally notified to submit candidates within 14 days. Yet, the Ijebu-Ode Local Government is alleged to have initiated steps prematurely, contravening the coordinated oversight mandated by Section 16(1)(b) of the 2021 Law. During the January 12, 2026 nomination exercise, some princes were excluded through delegate cards, raising concerns of disenfranchisement and contravening both the Declaration and the statutory requirement for transparency. Internal disagreements over eligibility, including claims by Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM 1) regarding his branch recognition, have compounded the controversy, demonstrating how ambiguity in customary rules can ignite conflicts.

Further complications arose over timelines and forfeiture claims. Fusengbuwa allegedly failed to submit nominations by the December 16, 2025 deadline, prompting the Fidipote Ruling House to claim it was their turn under Section 16(1)(c). Such assertions, if acted upon without independent verification, risk undermining the rotational integrity intended by the Declaration, potentially fueling cyclical inter-house disputes. Meanwhile, government interventions, suspensions based on undisclosed petitions and security considerations have drawn criticism for obscurity and possible overreach, creating perceptions that executive action may substitute for impartial adjudication.

In addressing this complex impasse, it is imperative that the Ogun State Government adopts a proactive and reconciliatory approach. Rather than repeated halts and unilateral directives, the government should facilitate a structured mediation process that brings together all ruling houses, kingmakers, and affected parties under a neutral forum. Such a platform should aim to reconcile differences, clarify eligibility criteria, and ensure strict adherence to both customary law and statutory provisions. Simultaneously, the government should ensure that all petitions, allegations, and potential legal liabilities against candidates are fully accessible to relevant security and investigative agencies, including the EFCC, DSS, and police, to examine claims of misconduct, fraud, or other infractions. This approach prevents the anointment of candidates with unresolved legal issues or pending investigations, thereby safeguarding the prestige, integrity, and symbolic authority of the Awujale title.

Transparency must support every stage of the succession process. This includes open documentation of nominations, verified vetting of candidates, and public disclosure of any pending legal or ethical investigations. By doing so, the state ensures that the succession is not only lawful and customary but also resistant to manipulation or partisan influence. Moreover, an independent mediation framework, coupled with investigative oversight, strengthens public confidence in the Awujale institution, reinforces respect for Ijebu traditions, and mitigates the risk of protracted litigation that could arise from perceived irregularities.

In the final analysis, while the Ogun State Government has statutory authority under Section 16 of the 2021 Law to intervene in the succession process, repeated unclear suspensions risk eroding the autonomy of the Awujale institution. A measured, transparent, and reconciliatory strategy grounded in law, custom, and investigative prudence offers the most sustainable path. By balancing executive oversight, traditional authority, and investigative transparency, the government can resolve the current crisis, prevent future disputes, and protect the sanctity of one of Nigeria’s most revered chieftaincy institutions.