The leadership of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, has petitioned Governor Dapo Abiodun over an internal dispute involving a faction of the family, asking the State Government not to recognise or engage with the group in matters relating to the vacant Awujale stool.
The petition, dated August 17, 2026, came amid a prolonged stalemate over the selection of the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona in July 2025.
The ruling house also appealed to Abiodun to lift the suspension placed on the traditional selection exercise and allow the kingmakers, known as Afobajes, to continue with the process.
The family said it remained committed to producing the next monarch and urged the Governor to ensure that what it described as an internal breakaway group did not derail the process.
The petition was signed by the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Abdul Lateef Owoyemi; Deputy Chairman, Otunba Oladokun Ajidagba; Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf; and General Secretary, Pastor Bola Salami.
Copies were reportedly submitted to the Ogun State Governor’s Office and forwarded to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Secretary to the State Government, Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government and Chairman of the Awujale Afobajes Council.
The development represents another chapter in the increasingly contentious succession process, which has been affected by disputes over eligibility, nomination procedures, petitions and the role of different members of the ruling house.
The Fusengbuwa family, which is next in line to produce the Awujale, accused a group allegedly led by Adeleke Adeyemi of attempting to establish a parallel structure within the ruling house.
According to the petitioners, Adeyemi was previously associated with the Otunba Ajidagba Unit, one of the three recognised units involved in the nomination of candidates for the vacant stool.
The family alleged that the group had embarked on activities capable of creating division and undermining the authority of the recognised leadership of the ruling house.
The petitioners described the development as an “unorthodox formation” and accused the group of engaging in activities they considered unlawful.
One of the allegations concerned meetings allegedly convened in the name of the Olori Ebi of the Ajidagba Unit.
The ruling house claimed that Adeyemi, working with Ridwan Oduneye, subsequently established what was described as a “Fact Finding Committee.”
According to the petition, the committee allegedly set out to investigate issues involving the leadership of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and, in the process, sought to damage the reputation of some of its senior members.
The petitioners argued that the committee’s activities were inconsistent with an earlier judgment of the Ijebu-Ode High Court in Suit No. HCJ/18/2014.
They maintained that the judgment restricted one unit of the ruling house from interfering in the affairs of another.
The dispute escalated further, according to the petition, when members of the breakaway group allegedly convened a meeting where they sought to remove the three recognised leaders of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House — Owoyemi, Ajidagba and Yusuf.
The three men had played prominent roles in the nomination process for candidates seeking the Awujale stool.
The leadership of the ruling house insisted that the nomination exercise had been conducted peacefully and in accordance with applicable laws, the relevant declaration and established tradition.
The current controversy is not the first dispute to surround the succession process.
The Awujale stool became vacant after Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona died on July 13, 2025, aged 91, after reigning for about 65 years.
Since then, the process of selecting his successor has attracted considerable interest, with a large number of aspirants expressing interest in the prestigious traditional position.
Earlier in January 2026, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House conducted a nomination exercise that produced 95 candidates, according to previous reports. The large number of aspirants followed changes to the nomination arrangements after the Ogun State Government raised concerns about the earlier procedure.
The process was subsequently suspended by the State Government following petitions and concerns surrounding the exercise. The suspension has remained a major point of contention, with the ruling house repeatedly appealing to Governor Abiodun to allow the process to resume.
In its latest petition, the Fusengbuwa leadership also referred to an earlier complaint submitted to the Governor by counsel to Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1.
The ruling house alleged that Oduneye’s name appeared in that earlier petition among individuals who claimed they had been excluded from the nomination process.
However, the Fusengbuwa leadership disputed the claim, saying Oduneye and some others were not selected to participate because of limitations on the capacity of the venue where the exercise was held.
The family further alleged that Oduneye and his father had previously admitted visiting KWAM 1’s residence to sign a Fusengbuwa Ruling House membership form on behalf of the musician.
According to the petitioners, the action was an attempt to make the Fuji musician eligible to contest the Awujale stool.
They rejected the move, arguing that KWAM 1 was not a member of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
The latest petition therefore urged Governor Abiodun to disregard what the leadership described as a parallel or dissident faction and instead direct the recognised Afobajes to complete their role in the succession process.
The ruling house argued that continued delay could further frustrate residents of Ijebuland, who have been waiting for the emergence of a successor to the late Oba Adetona.
The family also maintained that the majority of its members remained behind the recognised leadership and expected the Government to preserve the integrity of the traditional process.
However, the other side of the dispute has rejected the allegations.
Responding to the petition, Oduneye said the group was not attempting to interfere with the Government or the Awujale selection exercise.
He explained that its focus was the restructuring of the ruling house and addressing allegations that had been raised against its leadership.
According to him, the dispute was an internal family matter and should not be interpreted as an attempt to disrupt the selection of the next Awujale.
Oduneye also maintained that the decision to remove the three leaders remained valid because, according to him, it was reached through a family decision.
He said the affected leaders should respond to allegations of financial inducement and other accusations made against them.
The disagreement over the leadership of the ruling house has also moved into the legal arena.
Owoyemi, Ajidagba and Yusuf had previously rejected their alleged removal by the breakaway faction and indicated that they would pursue legal action against the Fact Finding Committee.
The committee, however, has maintained its position.
Oduneye, who serves as the committee’s secretary, said the decision to remove the three leaders remained in force following a family meeting held on August 9, 2026.
He also welcomed the possibility of litigation, describing court action as a legitimate means of resolving the dispute.
The latest development adds another layer to the already prolonged contest over the vacant Awujale stool.
For Ijebuland, the central issue remains the emergence of a successor to the late Oba Adetona, while the competing positions within the Fusengbuwa Ruling House continue to raise questions about how the selection process can proceed without further controversy.
The Fusengbuwa leadership is now asking the Ogun State Government to lift the suspension and allow the traditional kingmakers to resume their duties.
The opposing faction, meanwhile, insists that its concerns about the leadership of the ruling house must first be addressed.
With both sides maintaining their positions, the next move by the Ogun State Government could prove crucial in determining whether the long-delayed Awujale succession process can resume and whether the internal dispute within the Fusengbuwa Ruling House can be resolved without further escalation.
The Ogun State Government had not, in the material provided for the latest petition, publicly announced a fresh decision on the competing claims.
The succession process has already faced several procedural controversies since the stool became vacant. Earlier reports also documented disputes over participation in the nomination exercise and concerns from some members who alleged they were excluded.
As the disagreement continues, attention is expected to remain focused on Governor Abiodun and the State’s chieftaincy authorities, who will ultimately have to determine how the Government intends to proceed with the suspended process while balancing the competing claims from members of the ruling house.
For now, the dispute over who should lead the Fusengbuwa Ruling House has become closely intertwined with the broader question of how and when the next Awujale of Ijebuland will emerge.