Why Awujale nomination meeting was halted — Ruling house

File photo of the late Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

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Facts emerged on Sunday on why the nomination meeting of candidates for the vacant stool of the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland was put on hold by the Fusengbuwa ruling house.

The PUNCH Online also learnt that no fewer than 60 candidates are jostling to become the next Awujale.

Recall that the Fusengbuwa ruling house, which is next in line to produce the Awujale of Ijebuland following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona at the age of 91 in July 2025, had last Thursday formally announced that the nomination meeting would hold on Monday.

The announcement was contained in a letter dated December 11, 2025, and signed by the family’s spokesman, Abiodun Ogidan.

The meeting was scheduled to hold at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.

The ruling house outlined strict protocols for the exercise, emphasising that only accredited family members would be allowed entry.

It also stated that each candidate contesting for the vacant stool would be represented by two family members, with one nominating the candidate and the other seconding the nomination.

The ruling house further directed that candidates themselves would not be part of the nomination meeting, but would instead be represented by their nominees.

Family members and accredited representatives were also urged to conduct themselves with utmost peace, respect and orderliness befitting the sacred process.

However, in another statement issued on Friday by the Nomination Committee, the ruling house announced the postponement of the meeting.

Titled “To All Members of Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Ijebu-Ode,” the statement read in part: “Due to circumstances beyond the family’s control, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House Awujale nomination meeting scheduled for Monday, December 15, 2025, has been postponed.

“The new date will be announced shortly. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Speaking exclusively with our correspondent on Sunday, the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa ruling house and former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, said the meeting was put on hold following an intervention by the state government to prevent procedural errors that could result in litigation.

Owoyemi explained that the ruling house was summoned to a meeting by the state government on Tuesday to review the steps taken so far and ensure compliance with extant laws.

He dismissed insinuations that the postponement was connected to the candidature of Fuji musician, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM1, whom the ruling house had reportedly said was not a member of the Fusengbuwa ruling house and therefore not qualified to contest.

“The postponement of the nomination meeting has nothing to do with any individual, far from that,” Owoyemi said.

“What actually happened is that we received a summons from the state government for a meeting on Tuesday. The meeting is to ensure that everything is done properly so that the selection process does not become a fertile ground for litigation or generate legal controversy.

“It is a matter of comparing notes and ensuring that we cross our Ts and dot our Is. We appreciate this because it will improve our standards and ensure that the process is flawless. There is nothing to worry about.”

The Vice Chairman of the ruling house, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, also confirmed on Sunday that the ruling house and the kingmakers had been invited to a meeting with the government on Tuesday, necessitating the postponement of the nomination meeting.

Prof. Yusuf said the number of princes aspiring to succeed the late Awujale, Oba Adetona, was not fewer than 60.

Speaking on the phone, the Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos said, “There are certain things we have not done, so the government has scheduled a meeting with us for Tuesday. The government will meet with the ruling house, the kingmakers and the Awujale Interregnum Committee.

“It is to ensure that everything is in order, and the outcome of this meeting will determine when next we will hold the nomination meeting.

“The postponement has nothing to do with anyone. Whoever is saying that is only being mischievous and spreading falsehood. So far, about 60 people are in the race to become the next Awujale.”

Efforts to find a successor to the late Oba Adetona, who reigned for 65 years before his death in July 2025, had recently gathered momentum after the local government reportedly gave the ruling house 14 days to present candidates for the throne.

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