- Awujale Stool: Wasiu Ayinde Petitions Ogun Governor Over Alleged Exclusion
- The race for the Awujale stool has reportedly attracted more than 60 contestants
- Ayinde’s lawyer argued that the directives contradicted existing laws governing chieftaincy matters in the state
Popular Fuji musician and Olori Omooba of Ijebu land, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM1, has written to the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, alleging that he is being deliberately excluded from the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Ayinde claimed that leaders of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, which is next in line to produce the Awujale, are introducing procedures that violate the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, with the intention of preventing him from contesting for the revered stool.
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The allegations were contained in a letter dated January 8, 2026, addressed to Governor Abiodun and written by Ayinde’s lawyer, Dr Wahab Shittu, SAN.
The race for the Awujale stool has reportedly attracted more than 60 contestants, with Ayinde openly declaring his interest. However, the Fusengbuwa ruling house has maintained that the Fuji star is not a recognised member of the family and is therefore not qualified to participate in the selection process.
Ayinde had earlier approached the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu Ode, seeking an interim injunction to restrain the governor and six others from proceeding with the selection process.
The court, however, dismissed the application for lack of merit. The suit was later withdrawn by the musician without any public explanation.
In his latest petition to the governor, Ayinde said the Ijebu Ode Local Government, through a letter dated January 6, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Oke Adebanjo, had approved the commencement of the selection process by the ruling house.
He expressed surprise that while family members were preparing for a general meeting, a notice was allegedly issued by the ruling house’s Public Relations Officer, Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, directing aspirants to obtain nomination forms and appear before a screening committee chaired by Prince Alhaji Mitiu Adenuga
According to Ayinde, the notice fixed the nomination exercise for Monday, January 12, 2026, while also stating that the exercise would be conducted by delegates to be selected at a meeting scheduled for January 10, 2026.
In the letter, Ayinde’s lawyer argued that the directives contradicted existing laws governing chieftaincy matters in the state and appeared designed to disenfranchise certain members of the ruling house.
“It is clear that there are plans by the leadership of the ruling house to disenfranchise members who wish to participate in the nomination of candidates for the Awujale stool,” the letter stated.
The letter further insisted that all members of the ruling house have the right to attend nomination meetings and select candidates of their choice, warning that no group should usurp those rights through procedures not recognised by law.
Reacting to the development, the Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Prof Fassy Yusuf, confirmed receipt of the letter but dismissed its claims as baseless.
Describing the petition as “arrant nonsense,” Yusuf said the concerns raised had no impact on the selection process and accused Ayinde and his lawyer of misunderstanding the procedure.
“We have over 20,000 members in the ruling house. How does he expect us to manage such a crowd without a screening process?” Yusuf asked.
He added that the family had already fixed Monday, January 12, 2026, for the nomination meeting of aspirants to the vacant stool.
The Awujale throne became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who died at the age of 91 after reigning for 65 years.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Ogun State Government were unsuccessful, as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade, had not responded to enquiries as of the time of filing this report.
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