The Awujale stool, the throne of Ijebuland in Ogun State, has been vacant since Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona died in July 2025 after 65 years on the throne. More than a year on, the selection of his successor remains stalled, and the Fusengbuwa ruling house, whose turn it is, is divided over how to move forward. Here is a clear timeline based on published reports, with allegations attributed to those who made them.
How the Awujale Stool Is Filled
According to Channels Television, succession rotates among four ruling houses: Gbelegbuwa, Anikinaiya, Fusengbuwa and Fidipote. Fusengbuwa is next. The selection involves the ruling house, the kingmakers and the Ogun State Government. For background on the throne and the people it serves, see our guide to the Ijebu people and Ijebu-Ode.
Timeline of the Stalled Selection
- July 2025: Oba Adetona dies, leaving the Awujale stool vacant.
- January 2026: The ruling house’s nomination list reaches the kingmakers on 19 January. Reports put the number of candidates at 95, and said the price of the nomination form was cut from ₦100 million to ₦10 million. A petition was filed over exclusion from the process.
- 2026: The process stalls amid family disputes and legal challenges, and the Ogun State Government halts it, according to Channels.
- 25 August 2026: Family officials file a suit at a state High Court against Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Attorney-General, the State Executive Council, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and others, including the kingmakers, Tribune Online reports.
- 20 September 2026: The ruling house meets in Ijebu-Ode and elects a new family head, Omooba Otukayode Hakeem Otufale, who calls for a fresh process.
What the Court Case Asks For
According to Tribune, the suit asks the court to declare that the defendants, who received the family’s nomination list, must select a candidate from it, and to declare the alleged lock-out of the Awujale Palace unlawful. It also asks for an order that the kingmakers reconvene and complete the selection within seven days or another period the court considers just. The report does not mention a ruling, a hearing date or a response from the defendants.
Why the Fusengbuwa House Wants a Fresh Process
At the 20 September meeting, members said the earlier exercise was compromised, citing alleged procedural breaches and inadequate consultation, according to The Times. Otufale alleged that money collected from aspirants was never fully accounted for or refunded, that some aspirants were excluded from meetings and that 86 names reached the kingmakers without proper screening. These are his allegations, and they have not been tested. He also said the Awujale stool “isn’t for sale.”
The house asked for a transparent process that gives qualified members equal consideration and follows established procedures. Otufale said the family was neither party to nor aware of any case against the Ogun State Government and was ready to work with the authorities to restart. One family member also denied that the house has factions.
What Happens Next
In the reports reviewed, no court ruling and no restart of the selection had been announced. The two accounts, a suit filed in the house’s name in August and a September call for a fresh process, show the family is not yet speaking with one voice. Until that changes, the Awujale stool remains vacant. To understand the wider system, read our explainer on Yoruba kings and obas and our guide to the Ojude Oba festival, the great Ijebu celebration held before the Awujale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Awujale of Ijebuland?
The stool is vacant. Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona died in July 2025 after 65 years on the throne.
Which ruling house is next?
The Fusengbuwa ruling house, in the rotation of four houses.
Why has the selection stalled?
Reports point to family disputes, legal challenges and the Ogun State Government’s decision to halt the process.
Sources: Channels Television, Tribune Online and The Times Nigeria, linked above. Coverage current as of 21 October 2026.
